Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
14:57
Structural Design and Manufacturing of a Cruiser Class Solar Vehicle
Published on: January 30, 2019
Thermal-structural optimization and experimental validation of modified pyramid solar stills using finite element
R Ramesh Kumar1, P Sathyaseelan2, Ahmed Kateb Jumaah Al-Nussairi3,4
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, 600062, India. ramesh.mech37@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|May 21, 2026
Summary
Optimizing pyramid solar still absorber plates boosts thermal efficiency and heat flux. This eco-friendly solar desalination method improves water production without compromising structural integrity.
Area of Science:
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- Thermal Engineering
- Water Desalination
Background:
- Solar stills offer an eco-friendly solution to water scarcity in sunny regions.
- Productivity and efficiency are often limited by heat and mass transfer constraints.
- Systematic optimization of design parameters is crucial for enhancing solar still performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the thermal and structural behavior of conventional and modified pyramidal solar still configurations.
- To investigate the impact of geometric absorber plate modification on solar still performance.
- To validate computational models through experimental verification.
Main Methods:
- Combined finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental verification were employed.
- Three-dimensional steady-state thermal and static structural analyses were conducted using ANSYS Workbench.
- Geometric modifications were made to the absorber plate to increase heat transfer surface area.
Main Results:
- The modified design showed a 1.41% increase in temperature (342.91 K vs. 338.15 K).
- The highest heat flux increased by 15.66% (936.84 W/m2 vs. 809.97 W/m2).
- Thermal efficiency improved from 68% to 72%, with structural safety factors exceeding 85.
Conclusions:
- Geometric optimization of absorber plates significantly enhances pyramid solar still performance.
- The modified design improves thermal efficiency and heat flux without compromising structural integrity.
- Validated computational approaches provide a reliable basis for future solar still design optimization.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Typical Model Studies
Fluid mechanics model studies often utilize scaled-down systems to predict fluid behavior in full-scale environments, such as river flows, dam spillways, and structures interacting with open surfaces. Maintaining Froude number similarity in river models is crucial, as it replicates surface flow features like wave patterns and velocities.
01:27Thermal expansion and Thermal stress: Problem Solving
San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is exposed to temperatures ranging from -15 °C to 40 °C. At its coldest, the main span of the bridge is 1275 m long. Assuming that the bridge is made entirely of steel, what is the change in its length between these temperatures?
To solve the problem, first, identify the known and unknown quantities. The initial length (L) of the bridge is 1275 m, the coefficient of linear expansion (α) for steel is 12 x 10-6/°C, and the change in temperature (ΔT) is 55 °C.
To solve the problem, first, identify the known and unknown quantities. The initial length (L) of the bridge is 1275 m, the coefficient of linear expansion (α) for steel is 12 x 10-6/°C, and the change in temperature (ΔT) is 55 °C.
01:18Transformation of Plane Stress
Studying stress transformation is essential in understanding how stress components within a material, like a cube under plane stress, change with rotation. This change is analyzed by considering a prismatic element within the cube. As the element rotates, the stress components acting on it—both normal and shearing stresses—change in magnitude and orientation. This change is quantified using trigonometric functions of the rotation angle, relating the forces acting on the rotated element's faces...