Performance analysis of single‐Basin single slope solar water still system integrated with phase change material and porous structure

AbstractThis work aims to experimentally investigate the improvement in the performance and water productivity of a single‐basin single‐slope solar water distiller system by adding a porous structure (stones) and phase change material (PCM) above the basin surface. To explore the impact of adding a porous structure and PCM, two models are tested. The modified model that uses a porous structure and PCM is called (MSD‐FSP), whereas the normal model is called (SD‐F). Both systems include fins fixed above the absorber surface. A paraffin wax filled inside tubes as PCM is used with the MSD‐FSP model. The experiments are conducted in Mosul City, Iraq, during November and December 2023. The MSD‐FSP model is tested with only PCM and PCM with stones. The findings obtained from MSD‐FSP and SD‐F are compared under various water depths. The results showed that the MSD‐FSP model is more effective than the SD‐F model, where the performance of the MSD‐FSP is higher than the SD‐F by 31% for 30 mm water depth and 27% for 50 mm water depth. The findings also observed that the water productivity of the MSD‐FSP model is larger than that of the SD‐F model by 35% (for 30 mm water depth) and 28% (for 50 mm water depth). The findings indicated that the highest water temperature and water productivity are achieved while using the MSD‐FSP model, and these values are equal to 49.8°C and 0.81 kg/m2 at a water depth of 30 mm. The results confirm that using a porous structure (stones) and PCM has considerable impacts on heat exchange, evaporation rate, and heat transfer and hence, improves system performance.