Maximizing solar distillation performance for conical solar still through varied energy storage materials

Area of Science:

• Renewable Energy Engineering
• Materials Science
• Environmental Engineering

Background:

• Solar distillation is crucial for freshwater production, especially in arid regions.
• Improving the efficiency of solar stills is essential to meet growing water demands.
• Energy storage materials can enhance thermal performance in solar applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of different energy storage materials on conical solar still performance.
• To compare the energy and exergy efficiencies of glass balls, stainless steel balls, sandstones, and black gravel.
• To identify the most effective material for enhancing distillate yield and system efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigation of a conical solar distillation system.
• Incorporation of identical sized (1.5 cm diameter) energy storage materials: glass balls, stainless steel balls, sandstones, and black gravel.
• Comparative analysis of system performance under consistent environmental conditions.

Main Results:

• Stainless steel balls achieved the highest energy efficiency (54.06%) and exergy efficiency (3.93%).
• The system with stainless steel balls yielded the highest water productivity, reaching 9.45 L/m²/day.
• All tested materials showed potential for performance enhancement compared to a baseline system.

Conclusions:

• Stainless steel balls are the most effective energy storage material for conical solar stills.
• The use of stainless steel balls significantly boosts water yield and overall system efficiency.
• This research offers a cost-effective approach to improving solar desalination for freshwater generation.