A concise review on the role of nanoparticles upon the productivity of solar desalination systems

Abstract

In recent years, nanofluids have been widely used to improve the performance of various energy systems due to their favourable thermo-physical and optical characteristics. In particular, solar distillation systems, as an affordable and reliable technique to provide freshwater, have benefited from nanofluid technology. This article performs a review of literature on the implementation of nanofluid technology in active and passive solar distillation systems. The progress made and the existing challenges are discussed and some conclusions and suggestions are made for future research. The review indicates that the daily productivities of solar distillation systems enhance by using nanofluid and increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles. However, long-term operational stability and life cycle assessment remain critical issues. These factors should be considered for future research in this field.

Looking Beyond Energy Efficiency: An Applied Review of Water Desalination Technologies and an Introduction to Capillary-Driven Desalination

“…This capillary action is generated by using microchannels with low thermal conductivity (insulating) and high hydrophilicity, which optimizes mass transfer and energy dissipation [63,64]. At each step, surficial water molecules are transferred through capillary microchannels to an absorptive and hydrophilic evaporation plate, where a low-grade energy source, such as sunlight or waste heat, provides sufficient energy for the phase change [64,68,[326][327][328][329]. This idea was initially introduced by Ghasemi et al to generate solar steam by heat localization (Figure 11) [64].…”

Preparation of Nano-Particles and Their Applications in Adsorption

“…Consequently, the nano-materials are usually dignified in nano-meters (1 nm is equivalent to 10 -9 m) and it comprises systems having size less than macroscopic measurements and greater than molecular ones (mostly >1 nm and <100 nm) at least in one spatial dimension. This characteristic scale might be used for a particle size, diameter and layer thickness [1][2][3][4][5].…”

Optimal characteristics and heat transfer efficiency of SiO 2 /water nanofluid for application of energy devices: A comprehensive study

“…Adding nanoscale-sized particles to oil, ethylene glycol, water, and others, as base fluids, improves their thermophysical properties. 4 Nanofluids offer many key advantages in solar power plants. Choi 1 was the first to introduce the term "nanofluid."…”

“…From the beginning of the emergence of this concept, researchers quickly figured out that the performance of thermal devices such as cooling of microchips, heating, and cooling of buildings, and solar heating, could be raised by dispersing nanopowder in a base fluid. [2][3][4] Solar distillation has benefited from the nanofluid technology as an affordable and reliable technique for providing freshwater. 4 Nanofluids offer many key advantages in solar power plants.…”

“…[2][3][4] Solar distillation has benefited from the nanofluid technology as an affordable and reliable technique for providing freshwater. 4 Nanofluids offer many key advantages in solar power plants. Changing the concentration, type, and size of nanopowder directly affects the efficiency of solar energy absorption in various solar range, radiation and convection heat transfer, and direct solar energy absorption.…”