article · Scientific Reports
Energy storage materials can improve the performance of conical solar stills used for water desalination. Evaluating glass balls, sandstone, black gravel, and stainless steel balls of uniform size reveals clear differences in energy capture and freshwater output under equivalent environmental conditions. Among the tested media, stainless steel balls provide the strongest thermal performance, yielding 9.45 litres of distilled water per square metre each day. This material enables the distillation system to reach an energy efficiency of 54.06 percent alongside an exergy efficiency of 3.93 percent. By comparing these distinct storage options, the experimental findings establish that stainless steel significantly boosts distillate production compared to gravel, glass, and stone alternatives. The approach demonstrates a functional method to raise output in solar water purification devices tackling freshwater shortages.
Access to clean drinking water remains a critical challenge worldwide. Solar stills offer a low-cost, renewable method for desalination, but their output is often limited by modest thermal efficiency. Identifying readily available storage materials that absorb and retain heat effectively allows these solar devices to produce substantially more clean water without requiring external electricity or complex machinery.
The research presents an applied and experimentally tested modification for conical solar desalination units. Developers and manufacturers of decentralised water purification equipment can incorporate stainless steel balls into solar stills to raise daily drinking water yields. Because the intervention relies on standard, uniform components rather than complex active systems, it is close to practical adoption for small-scale, off-grid water production in arid or coastal communities.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
The study investigates the performance enhancement of a conical solar distillation system by incorporating different energy storage materials, including glass balls, stainless steel balls, sandstones, and black gravel. These materials were analyzed based on their ability to improve energy and exergy efficiencies. The experimental setup involved using identical sizes (∅ 1.5 cm) of these materials to maximize water evaporation and distillate yield. The key novelty lies in the comparative analysis of these energy storage materials under similar environmental conditions, offering insights into their thermophysical properties and overall system performance. Stainless steel balls demonstrated the highest energy efficiency, reaching 54.06%, with an exergy efficiency of 3.93%, and the highest water productivity of 9.45 L/m2/day. The study’s findings emphasize that stainless steel balls are the most effective energy storage material in a conical solar still, significantly improving water yield and system efficiency. The research presents a practical solution for cost-effective and energy-efficient solar desalination, addressing the global challenge of freshwater scarcity. Future work should explore the integration of advanced materials and hybrid systems to further optimize solar distillation processes.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79907-w
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
