Experimental investigation of spherical salt balls effect on solar distillers' thermal performance at various water depths


Attia M. E. H., Hussein A. K., Abdul-Ammer H. J., ARICI M., Ben Hamida M. B., Younis O., ...More

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol.20, no.6, pp.6685-6696, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 20 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s13762-022-04724-5
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Biotechnology Research Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.6685-6696
  • Keywords: Renewable energy, Solar distiller, Spherical salt balls, Thermal performance, Water depth, Water Distillation, STORAGE MEDIUM, HEAT-STORAGE, STILL, NANOTECHNOLOGY, ENHANCEMENT
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this research, a single slope solar distiller was fabricated and tested under the climate of Al- Hilla city, Iraq, with a tilt angle of 32.5 degrees according to its latitude. The experimental tests were done in November 2021. Two types of distillers were examined, the first one was a classical type, while the other one was modified by adding twenty-five spherical salt balls in its basin. Furthermore, the impact of the water depth (1.5 and 2 cm) was also investigated. Therefore, two cases were tested as follows: 25 spherical salt balls for 1.5 cm water depth (Case 1) and 25 spherical salt balls for 2 cm water depth (Case 2). It was found that using salt balls has a good role in increasing the productivity of modified solar distillers. Also, the daily accumulated productivity of modified solar still (MSS-SB) for Case 1 was higher than for Case 2 and classical solar distiller by about 8.06% and 17.45%, respectively. The results show that the maximum productivity was attained by MSS-SB Case 1, which was 1568 g/m2, followed by 1451 g/m(2) for MSS-SB Case 2, and 1335 g/m(2) for classical solar still. Finally, a minimum depth of basin water should be used with salt balls to increase the efficiency of the solar still.