New solar still with energy storage: application to the desalination of groundwater in the Bou-Ismail region

Abstract

This study aims to develop efficient desalination equipment that increases the distilled water production rate and enhances heat transfer in the evaporator. It focuses on the impact of equipment geometry and energy storage during the daytime and nocturnal period. In addition, the effects of the energy storage system, which is placed in two specific areas on the yield of the distillation process with and without energy storage, have been studied. The heat exchanger system provides the energy to the water to be treated in the daytime, while the concrete part provides the energy storage in the desalination evaporator at night time. The experimental test results showed that the increase of distilled water through the heating system is very important in comparison to the productivity of the conventional solar still. The obtained results indicate that the use of energy storage increases productivity by 50% in the nocturnal period. Indeed, the daily productivity of the concrete solar still, strongly affected by the heat transfer produced via concrete to the water evaporator, is presented in this study. It was found that the average daily distillate output of concrete solar still with energy storage is more significant than that of a solar still without energy storage. HIGHLIGHTS Design and realization of a new solar still coupled with flat plate solar collector experimented under climatic conditions of the Bou-Ismail region.; Integration of an energy storage system.; Acceleration of water preheating.; Increased operating time of the still after sunset.; System performance improvement.;

Keywords

• desalination
• distillation
• energy
• flat plate collector
• seawater
• solar