Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1 Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, P. O. Box: 602105, India.
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Al Khobar, P. O. Box: 31952, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
This experimental study investigates the performance of a single-slope solar desalination with a finned pond, considering varying glass cover angles, water depths, and the usage of sensible and latent heat materials for four different saline water types. Conventional solar stills (CSS) produce less distillate; therefore, some design changes were implemented by integrating a finned pond into the conventional solar still (CSS-FP). Additionally, paraffin wax and bricks were placed inside the solar still to enhance thermal storage capacity. The solar still is constructed with galvanized steel for the base and side walls, while the basin is covered with tempered glass. Thermal conductivity is improved by applying black paint on the sides. The finned pond enhances the heat absorption and distribution process, consequently increasing the evaporation rate within the still. The experiment was conducted in Pongalur, Tamil Nadu, India (10.9729° N, 77.3698° E). The maximum distillate production was achieved at a 35° glass cover angle and a 7 cm water depth. Desalination was performed on four saline liquids: bore water (BW), seawater (SW), leather industry wastewater (LW), and plastic industry wastewater (PW). BW exhibited the highest yield due to its lower density and salinity. Chemical analysis of the desalinated water suggests its suitability for home use. Economic research reveals a payback period of 230 days, confirming the financial feasibility of the solar still. Hence, it is concluded that the proposed CSS-FP can increase productivity compared to the CSS under different conditions.
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