An experimental work on the performance of single solar still with parabolic trough collector in hot climate conditions

Abstract

This study investigated the production of single slope solar still and the influence of combining with a parabolic trough collector. The effect of the different working fluid types on freshwater productivity, outlet working fluid temperature, heat gain, and thermal efficiency has been studied under the weather conditions of south city of Iraq/Najaf (32° 1' N/44°1' E). The first type was water and the second type is nanofluid. The results of the comparison showed when using water as a working fluid flowing inside the receiving tube for different days; the highest temperatures were obtained at 12:00 pm, and the average productivity of distilled water was obtained in May and June 2021 were 4.5358 and 6.733 kg/m2/day respectively. While when using the nanofluid as a working fluid flowing inside the Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) receiver tube, the outlet temperatures were rising for the same comparison days with an increase in the productivity of distilled water. Where the freshwater productivity during the day was 8.745328 kg/m2/day as, and it was 9.018119 kg/m2/day during the other day. A productivity analysis was carried out for two different working fluid types (Water and nanofluid instead of water) as a fluid running inside the receiving tube of PTC. The freshwater produced from PTC (with nanofluid) was a 42.2% improvement in productivity compared with conventional PTC.