A case study on distillate output of solar still using toner waste powder coated absorber plate

Abstract

Potable water is limited on the earth today, and its use is increasing day by day due to the industrial revolution and population. Solar still is a simple device used to convert saline/brackish water into potable water by application of solar energy. The distillate output of solar still remains lower. Also, it is the main problem of the solar still, so the researchers are trying to discover new innovations to improve distillate output. The main objective of this research paper is to use toner waste powder (TWP) mixed with black paint and its effect on distillate output and energy-exergy efficiency analysis. Toner waste powder characterized by FESEM and XRD tests. In the present work, two similar-sized solar stills have been used under climate conditions of Palanpur (24.1724° N, 72.4346° E), India, from April 2022 to May 2022. Observations of solar stills like water, inner glass cover temperature, distillate output, wind speed and solar intensity are measured every hour during experimental days. It has been found that the coating of the absorber plate with toner waste powder improved distillate output by 55.71 % and 51.90 % at water depths 2 cm and 3 cm as compared with the conventional solar still & 9.54 % higher at 2 cm water depth compared to 3 cm water depth. Energy and exergy efficiency also increased with the toner waste powder in solar still. From this research work, it has been concluded that the toner waste powder is a good low-cost material to increase the distillate output, energy and exergy efficiency.

Keywords

• Solar still (SS)
• Desalination
• Distillation output
• Toner waste powder (TWP)
• Modified solar still (MSS)
• Conventional solar still (CSS)