Experimental investigation on solar still with nanomaterial and dripping arrangement

Abstract

The scarcity of potable water for drinking purpose is everywhere in the world. The solar still can be used to provide potable water for the drinking purpose, but it has a daily yield of 3 litres/day. The experimental examination has been conducted on Modified solar still during March 2019 for climate condition of Patan district, Gujarat, India during morning 09 am to evening 06 pm. The performance enhancement of the Modified Solar still (MSS) has been carried out by the use of Zinc Oxide as nanoparticle and dripping arrangement of water compared with the Conventional Solar still (CSS). From the experiments, it has been observed that the yield of MSS and CSS found 3.04 l/m2 and 1.887 l/m2. The thermal efficiency of the MSS and CSS also determined and found 30% and 21%, respectively. It has also been observed that the modifications applied to the MSS obtained overall efficiency of 52.5%. The economic analysis of the MSS and CSS found the cost of water is, respectively, 0.95 INR/l and 0.75 INR/l. It is concluded that the solar still with nanomaterials and dripping arrangement improved the yield.