Enhancing the solar still performance using nanofluids and glass cover cooling: Experimental study

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 113; pp. 684 - 693
• Main Authors: Sharshir, S.W., Peng, Guilong, Wu, Lirong, Yang, Nuo, Essa, F.A., Elsheikh, A.H., Mohamed, Showgi I.T., Kabeel, A.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 25-02-2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Cooling; Cooling rate; Copper oxide; Copper oxides; Film cooling; Flakes; Glass; Glass cooling; Graphite; Magnetism; Micro-flakes; Nanofluids; Performance enhancement; Temperature; Water depth; Micro-flakes; Copper oxide; Water depth; Glass cooling; Nanofluids; Graphite
• ISSN: 1359-4311; 1873-5606
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.11.085

•Effects of graphite and copper oxide as new nanoparticle on the still yield.•The influence of nanoparticle concentration on the still yield.•The effect of varying the basin water nanofluid depths on the still yield.•The influence of glass cooling with using nanoparticle on the still productivity.
The use of graphite and copper oxide micro-flakes with different concentrations, different basin water depths, and different film cooling flow rates is experimentally investigated in an attempt to improve the performance of solar still. The micro-flakes concentrations are ranged from 0.125% to 2%. While, the basin nanofluid depths are ranged from 0.25 to 5cm. Whereas, the glass cooling flow rates are ranged between 1 and 12kg/h. The obtained results show that the solar still productivity is enhanced by about 44.91% and 53.95% using the copper oxide and graphite micro-flakes, respectively, compared with the conventional solar still (without micro-flakes). In case of using the water over the glass cover, as a feed water, the output yield is improved by about 47.80% and 57.60% using copper oxide and graphite particles, respectively while the daily efficiency of the conventional still is 30%. Furthermore, the daily efficiencies of 38% and 40% are obtained when using copper oxide and graphite, respectively, without using glass film cooling. Finally, the stills’ daily efficiencies when using copper oxide and graphite micro-flakes with glass film cooling are 46% and 49%, respectively.