Enhancement of Efficiency and Productivity of Solar Still Using Aluminium Oxide Nanoparticles

Solar energy is an emerging field due to its, low power consumption, and renewable nature. It has a wide range of applications, including solar cells, solar panels, and solar water purifiers. Over the past decade, the scarcity of drinking water has increased globally, and in the future, the demand for fresh water is expected to rise significantly. A solar still is a simple, economical, and promising technology that converts brackish water into fresh water. However, its efficiency is limited because solar energy is only available for approximately twelve hours per day. To address this limitation, researchers are focusing on storing thermal energy using phase change materials (PCMs), which can retain excess solar energy for later use. One of the main drawbacks of passive solar stills is their low efficiency. The incorporation of phase change materials (PCMs) with aluminium oxide nanoparticles enhances productivity, especially after sunset. In this study, aluminium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using the co-precipitation method. A passive-type solar still (single-basin, double-slope) was fabricated and tested in three different modes: i) Still without PCM ii) Still with PCM iii) Still with Nanoparticles Enhanced Phase Change Material (NPCM). The structural, morphological and thermal studies of aluminium oxide were analyzed. Various temperature parameters were recorded periodically and graphs were plotted to evaluate performance improvements.