Performance studies of a conical solar distiller using peanut shell‐integrated phase change materials: Energy and exergy analysis

Abstract This manuscript discusses the effect of peanut shells, peanut shells packed with PCM, on the performance of the conical solar distiller (CSD). Three CSDs, namely CSD containing peanut shells filled with PCM (CSD‐PS&PCM), CSD containing peanut shells (CSD‐PS), and traditional CSD (TCSD), were fabricated and tested in Algeria. The daytime (7 a.m.–7 p.m.) yields from the CSD containing peanut shells filled with PCM, the CSD containing peanut shells, and the TCSD were 5.45, 4.65, and 3.45 kg, respectively. The nighttime (7–11 p.m.) yields from the CSD containing peanut shells filled with PCM, CSD containing peanut shells, and TCSD were 0.65, 0.29, and 0.09 kg, respectively. The daily (7 a.m.–11 p.m.) yields from CSD containing peanut shells filled with PCM, CSD containing peanut shells, and TCSD were 6.1, 4.94, and 3.54 kg, respectively. The CSD containing peanut shells and the CSD containing peanut shells filled with PCM produced 1.4 and 2.55 kg more yield than the TCSD, respectively. The yield improvements for CSD containing peanut shells and CSD containing peanut shells filled with PCM were 39.5% and 72.1%, respectively, compared to TCSD. The energy efficiencies of the CSD containing peanut shells filled with PCM, the CSD containing peanut shells, and the TCSD were 45.53%, 38.66%, and 28.51%, respectively. Similarly, the exergy efficiencies of the CSD containing peanut shells filled with PCM, CSD containing peanut shells, and TCSD were 3.5%, 2.74%, and 1.79%, respectively.