Experimental analysis of corrugated solar still using nano-enhanced phase change material

The objective of this research work is to evaluate the influence of v-shaped corrugated basin integrated with nano-enhanced phase change material (NePCM) on the freshwater productivity. Experiments were conducted using different nanoparticles such as graphene oxide (GO), Al2O3, TiO2 and CuO as well as phase change material (PCM) namely fatty acids and graphene oxide. The conventional single slope solar still (CSSS) was combined with individual nanoparticles (CSSS + nanoparticle) and PCM (CSSS + PCM) and also with their combination (CSSS + nanoparticle + PCM) for performance analysis. The consideration of nanoparticle and PCM either individually or in combination increased the daily yield in comparison to the CSSS. The highest productivity was obtained in the case of CSSS + Paraffin wax + Al2O3 + TiO2 + GO (5.21 L/m2/day) as compared to the CSSS (3.15 L/m2/day), increasing the daily yield by 65%. The daily yield in case of CSSS + Fatty acid + Al2O3 + TiO2 + GO is 5.09 L/m2/day over the CSSS, thereby resulting in productivity improvement by 61%. The findings of the study present the potentiality of the developed v-shaped corrugated solar still with different combination of nanoparticles and PCM.