Productivity enhancement and comparative analysis of water as a heat storage medium with Paraffin wax for a solar desalination system.

Over the last ten years, there has been an increasing need for potable water as a result of fast population growth. The rural regions of Chennai endure acute water scarcity, especially in the summer season. Desalination is the most direct and efficient technique for obtaining drinkable freshwater. The widespread availability of solar energy, which is a renewable resource, offers the potential for a solar desalination process. The main objective is to harness solar energy by storing it in a heat storage substance contained within a sealed circular copper tube under pressure. The tube is thereafter submerged in a stagnant pool of salty water constructed in a spiral formation on a single plane, harnessing sun radiation throughout the whole day. Our experiments have revealed that water is a more efficient heat storage medium than paraffin wax, leading to a substantial improvement in the productivity of solar stills. We consistently observe the temperature of the still and the amount of water produced at regular intervals, and the findings are extensively analysed and debated. Although the Conventional Solar Still (CSS) and its combinations with other systems have demonstrated promise, they are limited in their ability to produce adequate amounts of freshwater. The objective of our current study is to optimise CSS techniques for freshwater production by maximising solar heat radiation and integrating Phase Change Material (PCM). Our project involves building a solar still utilising Mild Steel (MS) and 5mm untoughened glass. The dimensions of the solar still are 1000mm x 1000mm, and the collecting cover has a slope angle of 13°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]