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6 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013) IAEME AND TECHNOLOGY (IJMET) ISSN 0976 6340 (Print) ISSN 0976 6359 (Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013), pp. 01-09 IAEME: www.iaeme.com/ijmet.asp Journal Impact Factor (2013): 5.7731 (Calculated by GISI) www.jifactor.com
IJMET
IAEME
ABSTRACT This paper presents the experimental and theoretical work conducted at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India to analyze the performance of a basin type tubular solar still. The tubular cover of the still was made of PVC sheet. Design and fabrication of the setup was done in the premises of SHIATS-DU, Allahabad. Outdoor experimentation has been carried out in the month of April 2012. The objective of the study was to determine a relation for predicting convective and evaporative heat transfer coefficients in a tubular solar still. The temperature dependent physical properties of enclosed vapor were considered. The temperatures and yields obtained were used to determine the values of constants C and n used in the expression Nu = C (Gr.Pr)n. A good amount of distillate was recorded. It was obtained that the proposed model gives closer results with the experimental observation than the model given by Dunkle. The performance of a tubular solar still is improved by 166% than that of a double slope solar still of the same basin area. Key words: heat transfer coefficients, tubular solar still. INTRODUCTION The availability of potable water is a main problem for the communities who live in arid new regions or especially for people in deserts. The availability of high intensity solar radiation in these areas makes the direct use of solar energy a promising option. The solar energy can be utilized to obtain drinking water from salty or brackish water through the use of solar still. Solar distillation is one of the available methods for water distillation. Solar
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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013) IAEME
stills of different designs have been proposed and investigated with a view to get greater distillate output. A basin type solar still is the most common among conventional solar stills. Many experimental and theoretical studies have been done on single slope solar still [1]. The oldest, semi- empirical internal heat and mass transfer relation is given by Dunkle [2]. Then to predict the hourly and daily distillate output from the different designs of solar distillation units, numerous empirical relations were developed. Most of these are based on the simulation studies. Malik et al. [3] has considered the values of C = 0.075 and n = 0.33 for Gr > 3.2 x 105 as proposed by Dunkle. Clark [4] developed a model for higher operating temperature range ( 55 0C) in a simulated condition for small inclinations of the condensing surface ( 15 0C). Clark [4] has observed that the coefficient of convective mass transfer becomes half that given by Dunkle [1]. Tiwari et. al. [5] developed a modified Nusselt number, precisely for a trapezoidal cavity, for evaluation of convective mass transfer in a solar distillation. A theoretical expression developed was validated by experiments but only for temperatures greater than 60 0C. Later on Kumar and Tiwari [6] developed a thermal model to determine convective mass transfer for different Grashof numbers for solar distillation on a passive and active solar distillation system for only summer climatic conditions. Then Tiwari and Tripathi [7] developed a model for a high temperature range of the order of 80 0C but for an opaque, metallic, semi-cylindrical condensing cover made of Aluminium, which is not suitable practically for passive solar distillation in the field. The condensing cover developed may be suitable for either active solar distillation or for multisource distillation units. In this communication, an attempt has been made to evaluate the convective mass transfer by a modified Nusselt number. The modified Nusselt number has been obtained by regression analysis using experimental data. EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP A prototype solar still having a horizontal tray which acts as absorber of 0.77 m 2 was designed and constructed. Tray was constructed using galvanized iron sheet of thickness 0.5 mm and later on painted in black. The tray is surrounded by tubular structure made up of PVC sheet. The total area of the PVC cover is 3.52 m 2. The still is formed by a tubular transparent surface made up of PVC sheet. Testing was performed by placing the tubular solar still operating in sunlight for a 24-h period. The work has led to the development of the tubular solar still and to a technical improvement. In order to achieve the maximum yield from the system, the still orientation should be the direction at which the highest average incident solar radiation is obtained. Experimental investigation of the tubular solar still has shown that the productivity of the system was substantially increased in comparison with that of the basin type solar still. The present study was concerned with the design of new TSS and development of theoretical models based on evaporation from the water surface and based on condensation on the inner surface of the tubular cover. Copper constantan thermocouples are used, along with a digital temperature indicator, to record the glass temperature, water temperature and water vapor temperature in the experimental setup. These thermocouples, over a prolonged usage period, tend to deviate from the actual temperature. Therefore, they were calibrated with respect to a standard thermometer. A view of the condensing chamber and photograph of the experimental set up are shown in figure1.
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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013) IAEME
ANALYSIS OF CONVECTIVE MASS TRANSFER The moist air above the water surface is freely convected to the condensing cover by the action of a buoyancy force caused by density variation due to the difference between the water surface and condensing cover. This process within the unit always happens in natural mode. However the external heat transfer from condensing cover to the atmosphere takes place outside the still and can either be under the natural or forced mode depending on ambient conditions. The rate of heat transfer from the water surface to glass cover ( Qcw ) by convection in the upward direction through humid fluid can be given by
q cw = hcw (Tw Tg )
(1)
Nu =
hcw d = C (Gr. pr ) n k
(2)
Gr = x 3 . f .g. '.T f
Pr = C p . f kf
(3) (4)
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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013) IAEME
It is clear from the above equation that the value of hcw depends upon the values of two coefficients namely, C and n. It had been observed from the different values of C and n for given models, for a particular range of Grashof number, that experimental and theoretical values closely agree with a reasonable accuracy only for indoor simulation. However, for outdoor experiments the deviation was more prominent between theoretical and experimental values. Dunkle (1961), gave following expression for hcw for normal operating temperature range,
hcw
1/ 3
(5)
The expression for hcw cannot be use for the situations not fulfilling conditions i.e. for operating temperature of 75 C, spherical, conical and higher inclined solar stills etc. Hence new values of C and n need to be developed. In the present work, a thermal model will be developed and methodology is given hereunder to evaluate values of C and n. These are found by using experimental data of distillate output (mw), water temperature (Tw) and glass temperature (Tg). Malik et. al. (1982) have assumed that water vapour obeys the perfect gas equation and have given the expression for evaporative heat transfer rate (qew) as,
Pg )
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
& mew = R C ( Ra ) n
(10)
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013) IAEME
& mew = C ( Ra ) n R
(11)
K d 3600 ) l
Where, R = 0.0163( PW Pg )(
)(
(12)
(13)
Equation (13) can be reduced to a linear equation by taking log on both the side
ln(Y ) = ln(a ) + b ln( X ) Y ' = a ' + b' X '
From Eq. (16), the values of coefficients a and b are calculated using regression analysis. The expressions for a and b are given by:
b = N (X ' Y ' ) (X ' )(Y ' ) N (X ' 2 ) (X ' ) 2 (17)
a =
(18)
Where N is number of experimental observations. Knowing a and b from Equation (17) & (18), the value of C and n can be obtained by the following expressions C= exp (a) and n = b (19)
The experimental method used is an indirect approach for estimating the convective heat transfer coefficient based on the mass of distillate collected from the still.
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013) IAEME
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013) IAEME
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013) IAEME
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013) IAEME
CONCLUSION
An experimental work has been conducted to find the performance of a Tubular solar still. It is observed that the Dunkle model is not accurate in estimating the performance of a solar still, because of the assumptions made by Dunkle. From the present work it is therefore inferred that the evaporative heat transfer coefficients are important for designng solar distillation systems. It is also observed that tubular solar still of the proposed design gives better results than the double slope slope solar still of the same basin area.
REFERENCES
1. Tiwari G. N., Tiwari A, Solar Distillation Practice for Water Desalination Systems, Anamaya, New Delhi. 2. Dunkle, R.V., Solar water distillation: The roof type still and multiple effect diffusion still. Int. Development in Heat Transefer, ASME, Proc. Int. Heat Transfer. Part V, University of Colorado. 1961, P.895. 3. Malik, M.A.S., Tiwari. G.N., Kumar, A. and Sodha, M.S.,Solar Distillation. Pergamon Press Ltd, UK, 1982. 4. Clark, J. A., The steady state performance of a solar still. Solar Energy, 1990, 44, 43. 5. G. N. Tiwari, A. Minocha, P. B. Sharma and K. M. Emran, Simulation of convective mass transfer in a solar distillation process, Energy conv. Mgment., 38(8) (1977) 761770. 6. S. Kumar and G.N. Tiwari, Estimation of convective mass transfer in solar distillation system, Solar Energy, 57 (1996) 459-464. 7. G. N. Tiwari and R. Tripathi, Study of heat and mass transfer in indoor condition for distillation, Disalination, 154(2003) 161-169. 8. B. C. Nakra and K. K. Chaudhary, Instrumentation Measurements and Analysis, Ist ed., Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi, 1985. P. 33. 9. Shukla S.K., and Rai A. K. 2008, Analytical Thermal Modelling of Double Slope Solar Still by Using Inner Glass Cover Temperature, Thermal Science: 12(3) 139-152. 10. Ajeet Kumar Rai, Ashish Kumar and Vinod Kumar Verma, Effect of water depth and still orientation on productivity of passive solar still, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), Volume 3, Issue 2, 2012, pp 740-753. Published by IAEME. 11. Ajeet Kumar Rai, vivek Sachan and Maheep Kumar, Experimental Investigation of a double slope solar still with a latent heat storage medium, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), Volume 4, Issue 1, 2013, pp 22-29. Published by IAEME. 12. Hitesh N Panchal, Dr. Manish Doshi Anup Patel and Keyursinh Thakor, Experimental Investigation on Coupling Evacuated Heat Pipe Collector on Single Basin Single Slope Solar Still Productivity, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), Volume 2, Issue 1, 2011, pp 1 - 9. Published by IAEME.