Numerical Study of Inclination Effect of the Floating Solar Still Fitted with a Baffle in 3D Double Diffusive Natural Convection

Abstract

A three-dimensional computational study of double-diffusive natural convection was conducted to explore the impact of tilt on the thermal and solutal performance of a floating pyramidal solar still filled with an air-steam mixture. In the present work, the still is cooled from the upper walls and is maintained at a low vapor concentration. The bottom wall of the still is maintained at a hot temperature and high concentration. Four different models of baffles placed in the upper region of the solar still have been studied. The mathematical formulation of the equations governing the problem is based on the vector current potential -vorticity formalism. The numerical method of finite volumes is used. The effect of Rayleigh and tilt angle of the floating solar still on the flow structure, iso-temperatures, iso-concentrations, and heat and mass transfer rates were examined. The most relevant results of this study are (i) an uncooled air-vapor mixture outlet was observed during tilting for the solar still equipped with a small, flat baffle, (ii) triangular and curvilinear baffle configurations are suitable to guide the air-vapor mixture towards the cold walls during the tilting of the solar still floating on the sea, and (iii) the triangular baffle configuration is the most relevant design, enhancing thermal and solutal performance by 20%.