Influence of dissimilarity of water depth on performance of N alike photovoltaic thermal flat plate collectors included with double slope solar still: a comparative study

Abstract

This research work communicates the influence of dissimilarity of water depth on various efficiencies and productivity of N alike photovoltaic thermal flat plate collectors included with double slope solar still (NPVTFPC-DS). The analysis for NPVTFPC-DS has been done taking normal days of June and January for climatical condition of New Delhi into consideration. The hourly thermal, exergy, electrical and overall exergy efficiencies and productivity have been calculated for distinct values of water depth followed by the calculation of their mean values under optimized values of number of collectors (N = 11) and mass flow rate (ṁf = 0.03 kg/s). The values of average daily efficiencies and productivity first increase and then they become almost constant beyond water depth of 0.70 m. Values of various thermal efficacies and productivity obtained for NPVTFPC-DS has been compared with corresponding values for the similar set up of single slope type and it has been concluded that the values of exergy efficiency, thermal efficacy and productivity for NPVTFPC-DS are higher by 17.65%, 2.89% and 2.42% respectively than similar set up of single slope type at water depth of 0.14 m under optimum values of N and ṁf.