Effect of conductive particles embedded phase change material on the productivity of a solar still in a controlled environment

Abstract

A solar still's performance using 3 different conductive particles embedded in the phase change material (PCM) has been studied. The conductive particles involved are aluminium scrap (Al), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) nano powder and copper (Cu) nano powder, whereas the PCM is paraffin wax. Four similar solar still models were built with different PCMs, differentiated as Model A, B, C, and D, filled with Al scrap-PCM, Al2O3 nano-PCM, Cu nano-PCM, and Al2O3 + Cu-nano PCM combinations, respectively. The productivity of the solar stills for Models A, B, C, and D are 1.93, 2.15, 1.93, and 2.20 kg/kJ.m2 respectively. It was concluded that Al2O3 + Cu-nano PCM is the most efficient PCM-conductive particle combination and Cu nano powder can be replaced by aluminium scrap as an economical alternative.