Enhancing trays solar still performance using wick finned absorber, nano- enhanced PCM

Abstract

In this work, an experimental study has been performed to enhance the trays solar still (TSS) performance. The heat transfer rate between the saline water and the absorber of TSS has been improved.The tested SSs are conventional solar still (CSS), TSS, and finned TSS (FTSS). Jute wick materials utilized to cover the finned absorbers, where the wick feed water flows slowly to upward through the porous material. The influence of installing a reflecting mirrors on the internal sides of the TSS on the productivity was studied. For further enhancement of performance of TSS, phase change materials mixed with copper oxide-nanoparticles has been utilized to test the FTSS. In addition, 3 electric heaters have been utilized to heat the water basin. The photovoltaic cell was added beside the back wall of the FTSS thereby using the same FTSS space, and used to powered the electric heaters. The productivity of FTSS was enhanced by 166 and 136% when utilizing the heaters and phase change materials with nanoparticles over the CSS, respectively. Also, the daily water productivity of the FTSS was enhanced by 196% over the CSS when using both of electrical heaters and phase change materials with nanoparticles in the same time.