Enhancement of PV/T-integrated single slope solar desalination still productivity using water film cooling and hybrid composite insulation

Abstract

This context is about enhancing the freshwater production of a single slope solar desalination still (SSSDS) using water film cooling over the glass cover and using hybrid natural fibre composite (HNFC) insulation. In contrast to the conventional insulations, we proposed the HNFC insulation; this composite was made of natural fibre Pharsalus vulgaris (6 %) and nano-silica (1 %) with unsaturated polyester resin. In this study, conventional SSSDS and proposed SSSDS with enhanced evaporation and condensation have been designed. The same was built with native materials. A conventional and proposed type SSSDS was subjected to the same experimental condition. The experimental result showed that using water film cooling over glass cover and HNFC insulation at 0.5 cm depth caused a 35% increase in the amount of distilled water when compared with the conventional type SSSDS with polystyrene—Styrofoam (thermocol) insulation. Water film cooling over glass cover and HNFC insulation at 1 cm depth caused a 21% increase in the amount of distilled water when compared with the conventional type SSSDS with thermocol insulation. The conventional type solar desalination still with thermocol insulation at 0.5 and 1 cm depth yields are 1.665 and 1.171 l/m2/day, respectively, and the proposed solar desalination still with water film cooling over glass cover and HNFC insulation at 0.5 and 1 cm depth yields are 2.253 and 1.420 l/m2/day, respectively.