Modified A Solar Still With Geopolymer Material as Heat Source
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/wjes.Vol14.Iss3.929Keywords:
Water desalination, Glass solar still, single slope, geopolymer material (ceramic material).Abstract
This work is an experimental study of a single-basin, inclined glass solar still using a ceramic material as the storage medium. The geopolymer–graphite ceramic material functioned as an internally electrically heated thermal storage element, operating at 12V and with an electrical input power ranging from 15 to 29 W during the experiments. The material is environmentally friendly and operates at a low voltage, making it suitable for use with sustainable energy sources. The study was conducted under the climatic conditions of Wasit (32.516°N, 45.846°E) on specific days to investigate the effect of the ceramic material on the still's daily productivity and efficiency. Two samples of the ceramic material were prepared. The first sample consisted of three separate ceramic samples that were packaged and placed inside the still, while the second sample was a large, processed sample placed at the base of the still. The modified solar still achieved a freshwater productivity of 2.20 L/m²·day compared with 1.67 L/m²·day for the conventional solar still, corresponding to an enhancement of approximately 31.7 %. Furthermore, the thermal efficiency of the modified solar stills with the ceramic material reached 45%.
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