review · Results in Engineering
Tubular solar stills offer a method for water purification and desalination driven by solar radiation, typically yielding moderate outputs of six to ten litres per square metre per day. Enhancing the design and material selection of these stills can significantly improve distillation rates, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Key approaches evaluated include altering still geometry, modifying heat-absorbing materials, refining condensation surfaces, and introducing specialised enhancements. These enhancements encompass the application of nanofluids, phase change materials, thermal energy storage, glass cooling, water preheating, rotating cylinders, and varied absorber configurations. In particular, the integration of nanotechnology and advanced materials indicates that productivity can reach up to eleven litres per square metre per day alongside efficiencies of eighty per cent. These methodologies support the wider uptake of decentralised solar water purification in regions facing severe freshwater scarcity.
Access to clean drinking water is an escalating global challenge, especially in water-scarce areas lacking centralised infrastructure. Solar-driven purification offers a sustainable and independent alternative. By identifying how modern materials and structural adjustments raise daily output and efficiency, this work helps engineers and decision-makers deploy more effective decentralised systems that turn non-potable sources into drinking water using solar energy alone.
The identified designs and materials support decentralised water purification units tailored for arid and water-scarce areas. Potential users include system engineers, equipment manufacturers, and municipal or humanitarian water suppliers. Because the underlying evidence comes from a review of experimental and emerging approaches, such as nanofluids and novel phase change materials, the technology sits largely at the applied research and testing stage, requiring further engineering scale-up before widespread commercial rollout.
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This research paper presents a comprehensive review and comparative analysis aimed at enhancing the performance of tubular solar stills for water purification. As the global demand for clean and potable water rises, harnessing solar energy for water desalination has gained considerable attention. Tubular solar stills offer a promising solution, utilizing solar radiation to drive the purification process to produce a moderate productivity of 6–10 L/m2.day. This paper systematically reviews existing methodologies and materials employed in the design and construction of tubular solar stills, evaluating their impact on overall performance. The review encompasses various aspects, including the geometry of tubular solar stills, heat-absorbing materials, condensation surfaces, and innovative enhancements applied to improve efficiency. Comparative analyses are conducted to assess the strengths and limitations of different approaches, providing insights into the factors influencing distillation rates, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness such as using nanofluids, phase change materials and thermal storing materials, glass cooling, water preheating, rotating cylinders, various absorber shapes … etc. Furthermore, the paper discusses recent advancements in nanotechnology and novel materials that hold promise for optimizing tubular solar still performance to have such productivity of 11 L/m2.day and efficiency of 80 %. The findings of this research aim to guide researchers, engineers, and policymakers in selecting optimal design parameters and materials for tubular solar stills, ultimately contributing to the development of more efficient and sustainable water purification systems. The holistic approach presented in this paper seeks to address the existing challenges and promote the widespread adoption of tubular solar stills as a viable solution for decentralized water purification in regions facing water scarcity.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2023.101722
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