IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0314036.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy-exergy and environ-economic (4E) analysis of heat storage-based single-slope solar stills integrated with solar air heater

Author

Listed:
  • Sujit Kumar
  • Asim Ahmad
  • Kashif Irshad
  • Om Prakash
  • Rukaiya Kausher
  • S M Mozammil Hasnain
  • Prabhu Paramasivam
  • Abinet Gosaye Ayanie
  • Jayant Giri

Abstract

The energy-exergy and environ-economic (4E) analysis was conducted on a solar still with and without a hybrid thermal energy storage system (TESS) and a solar air heater. The proposed solar still was modified by integrating a rectangular aluminium box filled with paraffin wax and black gravel as the TESS and coupled with a solar air heater. Paraffin wax was selected due to its widespread availability and proven effectiveness in accelerating desalination, improving process uniformity, and maintaining optimal temperature levels. Throughout the experiments, meticulous data on mass loss, air velocity, and temperature were recorded for both conditions. The daily energy efficiency varies from 40.80% to 31.72%, showing a reduction rate with increased water depth. Estimates were made on the average exergy efficiency, losses, outflow, and inflow for the solar still. These were done for both setups. The analysis revealed that CO2 mitigation and credit were more favorable with the TESS. Furthermore, the Energy Payback Time (EPBT) for the hybrid heat storage-based single-slope solar still coupled with a solar air heater is 1.87 years. On the other hand, EPBT values for the hybrid heat storage single-slope solar still and the conventional single-slope solar still were 1.65 years and 0.95 years, respectively. Integrating a thermal energy storage system and solar air heater significantly improved the performance and sustainability of the solar still for desalination, making it a more efficient and environmentally friendly option for freshwater production.

Suggested Citation

  • Sujit Kumar & Asim Ahmad & Kashif Irshad & Om Prakash & Rukaiya Kausher & S M Mozammil Hasnain & Prabhu Paramasivam & Abinet Gosaye Ayanie & Jayant Giri, 2025. "Energy-exergy and environ-economic (4E) analysis of heat storage-based single-slope solar stills integrated with solar air heater," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(1), pages 1-26, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0314036
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314036
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0314036
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0314036&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0314036?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hassan, Hamdy & Ahmed, M. Salem & Fathy, Mohamed, 2019. "Experimental work on the effect of saline water medium on the performance of solar still with tracked parabolic trough collector (TPTC)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 136-147.
    2. Sharshir, S.W. & Peng, Guilong & Wu, Lirong & Essa, F.A. & Kabeel, A.E. & Yang, Nuo, 2017. "The effects of flake graphite nanoparticles, phase change material, and film cooling on the solar still performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 358-366.
    3. Chen, Guo & Kuang, Rao & Li, Wen & Cui, Kunpeng & Fu, Deran & Yang, Zecheng & Liu, Zhenfei & Huang, Heyi & Yu, Mingqi & Shen, Yijun, 2024. "Numerical study on efficiency and robustness of wave energy converter-power take-off system for compressed air energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mohamed, A.S.A. & Shahdy, Abanob G. & Mohamed, Hany A. & Ahmed, M. Salem, 2023. "A comprehensive review of the vacuum solar still systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    2. Chen, Q. & Kum Ja, M. & Li, Y. & Chua, K.J., 2018. "Evaluation of a solar-powered spray-assisted low-temperature desalination technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 997-1008.
    3. Shatar, Nursyahirah Mohd & Sabri, Mohd Faizul Mohd & Salleh, Mohd Faiz Mohd & Ani, Mohd Hanafi, 2023. "Investigation on the performance of solar still with thermoelectric cooling system for various cover material," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 844-854.
    4. Hassan, Hamdy & Abo-Elfadl, Saleh & El-Dosoky, M.F., 2020. "An experimental investigation of the performance of new design of solar air heater (tubular)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1055-1066.
    5. Hassan, Hamdy, 2020. "Comparing the performance of passive and active double and single slope solar stills incorporated with parabolic trough collector via energy, exergy and productivity," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 437-450.
    6. Yan, Zhongjun & Zhu, Yuexiang & Liu, Lifang & Yu, Zhun (Jerry) & Li, Shuisheng & Zhang, Guoqiang, 2023. "Performance enhancement of cylindrical latent heat storage units in hot water tanks via wavy design," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    7. Li, Min & Mu, Boyuan, 2019. "Effect of different dimensional carbon materials on the properties and application of phase change materials: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 695-715.
    8. Huang, Jian & He, Yurong & Chen, Meijie & Wang, Xinzhi, 2019. "Separating photo-thermal conversion and steam generation process for evaporation enhancement using a solar absorber," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 244-252.
    9. Jesus Fernando Hinojosa & Saul Fernando Moreno & Victor Manuel Maytorena, 2023. "Low-Temperature Applications of Phase Change Materials for Energy Storage: A Descriptive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-39, March.
    10. Amiri, Hossein & Aminy, Mohammad & Lotfi, Marzieh & Jafarbeglo, Behzad, 2021. "Energy and exergy analysis of a new solar still composed of parabolic trough collector with built-in solar still," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 465-479.
    11. Omara, Z.M. & Abdullah, A.S. & Kabeel, A.E. & Essa, F.A., 2017. "The cooling techniques of the solar stills' glass covers – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 176-193.
    12. Hassan, Hamdy & Yousef, Mohamed S. & Fathy, Mohamed & Ahmed, M. Salem, 2020. "Assessment of parabolic trough solar collector assisted solar still at various saline water mediums via energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and enviroeconomic approaches," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 604-616.
    13. Lee, Ga-Ram & Park, Chang-Dae & Lim, Hyuneui & Cho, Sung-Hoon & Choi, Seok-Min & Lim, Byung-Ju, 2023. "Performance enhancement of a diffusion-type solar still: Wettability and flowability of condensation surface," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 277-285.
    14. Fang, Shibiao & Mu, Lin & Tu, Wenrong, 2021. "Application design and assessment of a novel small-decentralized solar distillation device based on energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and enviroeconomic parameters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1350-1363.
    15. Chen, Chao & Ling, Haoshu & Zhai, Zhiqiang (John) & Li, Yin & Yang, Fengguang & Han, Fengtao & Wei, Shen, 2018. "Thermal performance of an active-passive ventilation wall with phase change material in solar greenhouses," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 602-612.
    16. Gurjeet Singh & K. Chopra & V. V. Tyagi & A. K. Pandey & R. K. Sharma & Ahmet Sari, 2022. "Estimation of thermodynamic and enviroeconomic characteristics of khoa (milk food) production unit," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(11), pages 12542-12581, November.
    17. Sebastian, Geo & Thomas, Shijo, 2021. "Influence of providing a three-layer spectrally selective floating absorber on passive single slope solar still productivity under tropical conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    18. Wang, Yongfeng & Li, Shuguang & Bu sinnah, Zainab Ali & Ghandour, Raymond & Khan, Mohammad Nadeem & Ali, H. Elhosiny, 2024. "Optimizing energy efficiency and emission reduction: Leveraging the power of machine learning in an integrated compressed air energy storage-solid oxide fuel cell system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    19. Kumar R, Reji & Pandey, A.K. & Samykano, M. & Aljafari, Belqasem & Ma, Zhenjun & Bhattacharyya, Suvanjan & Goel, Varun & Ali, Imtiaz & Kothari, Richa & Tyagi, V.V., 2022. "Phase change materials integrated solar desalination system: An innovative approach for sustainable and clean water production and storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    20. Elsheikh, A.H. & Sharshir, S.W. & Mostafa, Mohamed E. & Essa, F.A. & Ahmed Ali, Mohamed Kamal, 2018. "Applications of nanofluids in solar energy: A review of recent advances," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3483-3502.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0314036. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.