Experimental investigation of solar distillation system integrated with photoelectric diffusion-absorption refrigerator (DAR)

Abstract

The limited productivity of conventional solar distillation system is one of the most prominent obstacles that engage researchers to seek for solving using various technologies. Though many technologies suggested to enhance the rate of freshwater production, most of them are expensive and require special equipment for implementation. Therefore, the current work aims to increase solar distillery production and reduce the production cost using new technology. The current study is a hybrid system consisting of the conventional solar still CSS and photoelectric diffusion-absorption refrigerator (DAR), which consumes relatively low power energy 79 W. This is to increase the basin water temperature and the surface area of condensation which improving daytime production and continuity during the night. From the analysis of experimental results, it is observed that the daytime production of conventional solar still integrated with a diffusion-absorption refrigerator (CSSIDAR) model improved by 251% compared to a conventional solar still CSS model and improved by 470% during the nighttime. The estimated cost to produce 1 liter of freshwater from CSS and CSSIDAR found to be 0.051 $ and 0.046 $, respectively. © 2020 Author(s).