Effect of Tin Oxide/Black Paint Coating on Absorber Plate Temperature for Improved Solar Still Production: A Controlled Indoor and Outdoor Investigation

Abstract

The ever-increasing water stress and availability of fresh drinking water are becoming a major challenge in rural and urban communities. The current high-end and large-scale technologies are becoming way more expensive and not friendly to the environment. In this regard, solar still is becoming a prominent and promising future technology due to its environment-friendly nature, less maintenance and operational costs, and simple design. The technological challenge regarding solar still is its low distillate yield. In this study, an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of tin oxide (SnO2) on the absorption surface of solar still towards improvement in sunlight absorption, which would lead to high distillate production rates. Various concentrations of SnO2, i.e., 0.5wt%, 1 wt%, 3 wt%, 5 wt%, 7 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt%, have been mixed in black and applied on the absorber plate to further optimize the suitable concentration. The experiments have been performed in both indoor (simulated) and outdoor conditions. An increase in surface temperature of absorber plate has been observed with increasing concentration of SnO2 under both the indoor and outdoor conditions, which is due to high solar spectrum absorption properties of SnO2 in the ultraviolet (UV) and near to far-infrared (IR) regions. The highest surface temperature of 101.61°C has been observed for specimens containing 15 wt% SnO2 in black paint under indoor conditions at 1000W/m2 irradiation levels, which is 53.67% higher compared to bare aluminum plate and 16.91% higher compared to only black paint coated aluminum plate. On the other hand, the maximum temperature of 74.96°C has been recorded for the identical specimens containing 15 wt% SnO2 under uncontrolled outdoor conditions. The recorded temperature is 47.96% higher than the bare aluminum plate and 14.88% higher than the black paint-coated aluminum plate. The difference of maximum temperatures under indoor and outdoor conditions is due to uncontrolled outdoor conditions and convective losses.

A Comprehensive Review of Performance Augmentation of Solar Stills Using Common Non-Metallic Nanofluids

“…Rasachak et al [71] evaluated the capability of SnO 2 in enhancing solar-still productivity. SnO 2 concentrations of 15 wt% resulted in the highest surface temperature of 101.61 • C-which was 53.67% higher than that of the conventional solar still.…”

Artificial Intelligence Techniques for the Photovoltaic System: A Systematic Review and Analysis for Evaluation and Benchmarking

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Performance of an Adaptive Optimization Paradigm for Optimal Operation of a Mono-Switch Class E Induction Heating Application

“…Due to its superior efficacy, efficient control [1,2], and minimal gaseous emissions, induction heating has been broadly adopted, not only in industrial applications, but also in household appliances [3,4]. Induction heating procedures (IHPs) have several characteristics that are superior to electric burners and gas cooking burners, including quicker warming rates, lower energy usage and expenses, no harmful greenhouse gases emissions, touchless scorching that is secure, and compact sizes [5].…”