Heliyon (Apr 2023)
Performance and exergy analysis of an inclined solar still with baffle arrangements
Abstract
This study presents the details of performance and exergy investigations on an inclined solar still with baffle arrangements. The shortage of consumable water creates the transformation of accessible brackish water into consumable water an unavoidable one and this can be accomplished utilizing sun-oriented refining. To remove drinkable water from pungent water, sun-oriented still is broadly utilized. To build the contact season of the pungent water with sunlight-based brilliance, perplex course of action is set to expand the opposition in the stream. This prompts more vanishing of brackish water. Therefore, the objective of this study is to improve freshwater yield. The experimental study is performed for two different mass flow rates (mf1 = 0.0833 kg/min and mf2 = 0.166 kg/min). An increase in the mass flow of water directly deteriorates the yield of fresh water. Highest accumulated freshwater yield is achieved as 2.908 kg/m2 day during the month of May for mf1 = 0.0833 kg/min. The accumulated freshwater yield improved by 4.23% in comparison with inclined solar still designs. Moreover, the yield is better by 3.49%–61.56% in comparison with various solar still designs. Using RSM, a polynomial statistical model is specified to estimate as well as maximize the freshwater yield of ISSB. The exergy analysis for mf1 = 0.0833 kg/min shows a maximum hourly exergy efficiency of 6.82%.