Experimental Performance Analysis of a Solar Desalination System Modified with Natural Dolomite Powder Integrated Latent Heat Thermal Storage Unit

Abstract

Solar desalination systems are effective and sustainable applications that are utilized to obtain potable water from saline or contaminated water. In this research, three solar desalination systems, including a conventional system, a phase change material (PCM)-based thermal energy storage unit (TESU), and a natural dolomite powder integrated PCM-based TESU, were structured and experimentally investigated. The developed solar desalination systems were analyzed simultaneously and the findings were discussed in detail. According to the empirically obtained outcomes, utilizing PCM-based TESUs and dolomite-powder-embedded PCM-based TESUs increased daily cumulative productivity by 10.15% and 17.70%, respectively, in comparison to the conventional distiller. Employing dolomite powder increased the energy and exergy efficiencies of the conventional distiller from 15.91% to 18.28% and from 1.26% to 1.78%, respectively. Moreover, environmental metrics such as global warming potential and the sustainability index of the developed solar desalination systems were analyzed within the scope of this work.

Study of the impact of variable-phase materials (PCM) on the single basin two-slop solar distiller

“…The experiment was also re-tried with the addition of bitumen in the basin. We also found that the water temperature in the basin is lower than the previous experiment when adding bitumen as a phase change material, plus its black color works to retain heat for longer which increases its heat, lowers the temperature of the basin, reduces the distillation speed and conforms to [12,15]. Through the experiment we note that the addition of bitumen in the basin.…”

“…Evaporation heat is transferred from the water surface to the glass surface given by the equation (12).…”

“…Experimentally obtained increased productivity for the second and third models compared to the first model by (10.15% and 17.75%), respectively. Energy and efficiency improved by (15.91% to 18.28%) [12]. In this research, they designed and manufactured a one-basin solar distiller and two sloped the study of its properties also studied the temperature of water and glass on a clear day.…”

Solar desalination: A review of recent developments in environmental, regulatory and economic issues

“…This is a highly recommended paper for scientists and decision makers who are interested in solar desalination systems that are relatively simple and small structurally but that also have a relatively high freshwater production rate. Selimefendigil et al, [25] investigated two new types of thermal storage units based on a phase change material and a dolomite powder integrated with or imbedded in a phase change material. The authors concluded that the inclusion of a natural mineral powder improved the thermal energy storage properties of system.…”