Energy, Exergy, Economic and Environmental Analysis of Single Slope Solar Still System using Phase Change Material.

Abstract

In this paper, a particular solar still, SS system is constructed, and a phase change material, PCM. (SP42) is employed as a storage of thermal energy to analyze energy, exergy, economy, and environmental, 4E, performance in different seasons. The 4E analysis of the modified SS system revealed that the thermal and exergy analysis of the improved system is better in the summer than in the autumn, as the thermal efficiency of comparison masses (2.5, 3 kg) of PCM is recorded in the summer at 17.3% and 21.1%, respectively, while in the autumn it is 16.6% and 14.3%, respectively. The exergy analysis for the same masses of PCM utilized is recorded at 4.9, 8 in the summer, while in the autumn, it is recorded at 8.36 and 4.43, respectively. The cost per one liter of enhanced SS, is $0.049 at 2.5kg and $0.040 at 3.0 kg in summer, while in autumn it is $0.075 at 2.5kg and $0.087 at 3.0 kg. The highest net CO2 mitigation and carbon credit obtained from the enhanced still system are 34.74 tons and $486.411 at 3.0 kg PCM in the summer. Finally, 2.5 and 3.0 kg of PCM masses are considered the ideal amounts for enhanced performance of the still system, with these masses achieving the highest performance (4-E) for all days.