Influence of the Wind Generator and Thermal Electrical Modules in the Solar Still in the Continuous Production of Fresh Water

Brackish groundwater makes it difficult to use for human consumption. The water productivity of solar desalination plants is limited. The present study aims to increase the drinking water productivity of a hybrid solar still, integrating a wind generator and thermoelectric modules for 24-h operation. The construction and experimental performance of two asymmetric pyramid solar stills are described, a hybrid solar still model (SSH) and a passive solar still model (SSP). The experimental research was conducted under the climatic conditions in Campina Grande, Brazil. The thermal performance of the solar stills and the quality of distilled water were evaluated. For the hybrid solar still, productivity during the day and night was 7,615 L·m–2·day–1 and 4,794 L·m–2·day–1, respectively. The specific energy consumption was 2 x10–5 kWh·mL–1 at night, and the specific energy consumption was 7.22 × 10–5 kWh·mL–1 during the day with the wind generator. This data correlates with an increase of 5.7 in water productivity for the hybrid system (SSH) compared to the reference system (SSP). Regarding brackish and distilled water qualities, there was a significant reduction in the physicochemical parameters evaluated, especially sodium and electrical conductivity of distilled water, with a decrease of 100% and 98.8%, respectively.