Effect of flat plate collectors in series on performance of active solar still for Indian coastal climatic condition

Abstract

Effect of flat plate collectors (FPCs) in series on the distillate output and performance of solar still have been studied in active mode. The solar still has an effective basin area of 1 m2 and fixed cover inclination of 30°. Each FPC with an effective area of 2 m2 is attached with solar still. For the present study, experiments have been conducted for 24 h during the summer months for active solar distillation system. An effective collector inclination of 5° is used. Outdoor experiments were conducted at Kakinada (16°.93′N/83°.33′E), A.P., India, which has coastal climatic conditions. The aim of the present work is to study the effect of FPCs connected in series on the yield and distillation efficiency of an active solar still for the selected location. The results show that solar still, with two FPCs connected in series, provides 41% more distillate yield when compared to still with single FPC and the still efficiency is 0.47% more with two FPCs connected in series. The still with three FPCs connected in series has produced 89% more distillate yield when compared to still with single FPC. However, the still efficiency is 0.48% less with three collectors in series due to increase in area for radiation. The increase in distillate yield for the still with FPCs in series is due to the attainment of high water temperature.

Keywords

• Active solar still
• Flat plate collector
• Collector inclination
• Heat transfer coefficient
• Distillation efficiency