Computational fluid dynamic as a tool for solar still performance analysis and design development: A review

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) is a simulation tool which utilizes the applied and computational mathematics for fluid flow regimes modeling to predict the heat, mass and momentum transfer behavior. In recent years, the solution’s accuracy of the CFD simulations became within the acceptable range demonstrating that CFD is a valid tool for performance analysis and design development for many thermal-hydraulic systems. This encourages researchers to use it in the modeling of evaporation and condensation phenomena or two-phase flow with a vapor-liquid phase change process and mass and heat transports through the interface simulation which is one of the urgent difficulties in the solar stills development and analysis. The aim of this is to introduce a comprehensive review work of the highlights that have been made through the recent years for most important studies about the CFD approach as a tool for performance prediction and analysis in addition to design improvement and development for solar stills. This study is supported with a compact synopsis in the form of, computational domain (two or three dimen-sional), CFD software utilized, operating and geometrical parameter range, simplified assumptions and the better CFD results.