Investigation on the performance of solar still with thermoelectric cooling system for various cover material. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shatar, Nursyahirah Mohd; Sabri, Mohd Faizul Mohd; Salleh, Mohd Faiz Mohd; Ani, Mohd Hanafi
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 202(2023)
• Page Start: 844
• Page End: 854
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: Cooling power -- Cover cooling -- Cover material -- Solar still -- Thermoelectric cooling system; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.11.105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, an experimental investigation was performed to determine the effect of varying thermoelectric (TEC) cooling power on the solar still using different cover materials. Three types of cover materials, glass, polycarbonate (PC), and acrylic (PMMA), were studied for the TEC cooled solar still. TEC cooling power was varied from 12 W to 36 W by changing the applied TEC current from 2 A to 4 A. The study was conducted at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which is located at 3.118 ∘ N latitude and 101.656 ∘ E longitude. The productivity of the solar still productivity with glass cover was increased by up to 76% when TEC cooling used a current of 4 A. The PMMA and PC covers had lower productivity compared to the reference solar still by up to −48% and −82%, respectively. The highest energy efficiency obtained by a solar still with TEC cooling for glass, PC and PMMA cover was 23.6%, 2.5%, and 7.2%, respectively. The average maximum exergy efficiency of solar still with glass, PC, and PMMA cover calculated to be 7.04%, 0.61%, and 2.13%, respectively. The economic analysis revealed that the lowest cost per litre was achieved by glass cover TEC cooling of $ 0.042. Highlights: Effect of TEC cooling was studied for solar still using different cover materials. Freshwater yield increase with increasing TEC cooling power for glass and PC cover. Highest energy efficiency was obtained using 36 W TEC cooling power. Exergy efficiency had the best enhancement using TEC cooling power of 27 W. The lowest CPL was obtained by glass cover solar still using 36 W TEC cooling power.