Experimental study on a hybrid solar distillation system integrated with a photovoltaic thermal collector for the co-production of electricity and freshwater

Authors

S. A. El Agouz, Department of Mechanical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
Mohamed Samy Abo Shala, Department of Mechanical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
Ayman Refat Abd Elbar, Department of Mechanical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta, EgyptFollow

DOI

10.70259/engJER.2024.851885

Abstract

This experimental study investigates the performance of a hybrid solar still system integrated with a photovoltaic (PV) panel and a cooling system, with the goal of enhancing both the freshwater productivity and the performance of the photovoltaic panel. Over a span of four consecutive days, four distinct experimental cases were tested in Tanta (Longitude/Latitude: E 31° 0′/ N 30° 47′), each with different cooling water flow rates of (3 L/min, 6 L/min, and 9 L/min) for cooling the lower surface of photovoltaic panel, and different hot water flow rates of (0.6 L/hr, 0.9 L/hr, and 1.2 L/hr) input to modified solar still. Various parameters were measured, including temperature, PV power, solar intensity, and water yield, recorded every half hour from 7 AM to 12 AM. The results showed significant improvements in both freshwater yield and PV power generation when the cooling system was applied to the PV panel. Findings revealed that increasing the cooling water flowrates of the PV panel to 3 L/min, 6 L/min, and 9 L/min enhanced the net output PV power generated to 1579.2 W/m², 1794.6 W/m², and 2010 W/m² compared to only 1284.3 W/m² for PV without cooling. Furthermore, increasing the flowrates of hot feed water inlet to MSS to 0.6 L/hr., 0.9 L/hr., and 1.2 L/hr. enhanced the accumulated freshwater productivity to 4.2923 kg/m², 4.9361 kg/m², and 5.7753 kg/m², respectively, compared with only 2.654 kg/m² for traditional solar still without any additional input energy to the system. The study concluded that case (4), which combines the PV cooling system with hot feed water as additional input energy to solar still, is highly effective in maximizing both freshwater productivity and electrical efficiency, offering a sustainable solution for addressing water scarcity while enhancing renewable energy utilization.

Recommended Citation

El Agouz, S. A.; Abo Shala, Mohamed Samy; and Refat Abd Elbar, Ayman (2024) "Experimental study on a hybrid solar distillation system integrated with a photovoltaic thermal collector for the co-production of electricity and freshwater," Journal of Engineering Research: Vol. 8: Iss. 5, Article 17.
DOI: 10.70259/engJER.2024.851885
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/erjeng/vol8/iss5/17