Solar Stills Productivity with Different Arrangements of PV-DC Heater and Sand Layer in Still Basin: A Comparative Investigation

Ali Riahi ； Khamaruzaman Wan Yusof ； Mohamed Hasnain Isa ； Balbir Singh Mahinder Singh ； Nasiman Sapari

《Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology》 8卷11期 (2014/09) Pp. 1363-1372

並列摘要

Solar energy as a sustainable and accessible energy source can be harnessed and converted to electrical energy using photovoltaic modules. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems show tremendous promise as sustainable, environmentally friendly and low-cost electricity sources. Solar energy can also be applied to produce potable water using solar distillation still. In this study, water production performance of four low-cost solar stills with different arrangements of PV module-DC heater and sea sand layer in the solar still basin was evaluated. Four types of double slope single basin solar distillation stills with similar shapes were fabricated. A stainless steel basin with length 50 cm, width 30 cm and depth 8 cm was used in each solar still. The still configurations differed based on inclusion of 2 cm depth of sea sand layer in the basin and use of a 50 Watts PV-DC heater. A comparison of the cumulative water production among these solar stills showed that the integrated system that included sea sand in the solar still basin and also used PV-DC heater was the most effective; producing two times the water produced by a conventional solar still. The integrated solar still can be employed in coastal and rural areas with lack of clean water and electricity supply.

並列關鍵字

Direct Current (DC) power ； energy conversion ； photovoltaic module ； solar energy ； solar still ； water distillation