Development of Thermal Energy Storage Material From Blends of Jatropha Biodiesel and Paraffin Wax for Augmenting Freshwater Generation Capacity in a Solar Desalination System
Subbarama Kousik Suraparaju, Sendhil Kumar Natarajan
Abstract
Abstract Enhancing nocturnal productivity holds promise for boosting the effectiveness of solar desalination setups. Current research concentrates on an innovative strategy: the integration of paraffin wax and Jatropha biodiesel as a composite energy storage material (CESM) to amplify distilled water output during nighttime. The composite material, comprising Jatropha biodiesel and paraffin wax in a 1:1 ratio by weight, is meticulously examined for its impact on productivity, juxtaposed against a conventional solar still (CSS). Results reveal a substantial improvement in thermal conductivity with CESM, exhibiting a noteworthy 20.37%% surge compared to pure paraffin wax. Furthermore, a solar still with biodiesel and phase change material (SSBDPCM) is pitted against a CSS, with continuous monitoring of water and absorber temperatures alongside distillate production. The findings illustrate that SSBDPCM achieves a 16% upsurge in water temperature and a 10% elevation in absorber temperature compared to CSS. Impressively, SSBDPCM achieves a staggering 63% increase in distillate production, yielding 3.6 l/m2 and 3.4 l/m2, in sharp contrast to CSS, which only manages 2.2 l/m2 and 2.1 l/m2 over a two-day test period. Furthermore, a comprehensive cost analysis showcases the economic superiority of SSBDPCM over CSS. SSBDPCM demonstrates a compelling 29.2% reduction in cost per liter and a significant 25.9% decrease in the payback period in comparison to CSS. These compelling outcomes underscore the substantial potential of the SSBDPCM approach in delivering heightened efficiency and cost-effectiveness, paving the way for a promising advancement in solar stills.