Augmentation of Solar Still Distillate Productivity using Different Concentrations of CuO Nanofluids: An Experimental Approach

A device used to convert saline water into freshwater popularly known as solar still (SS). It is not popular in the market due to its low productivity. In this paper, efforts were put to enhance yield of single slope solar still (SSSS) by mixing copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles having different concentrations into the base water. The performance of SS with and without nanoparticle were compared. Further, convective and evaporative heat transfer coefficients were evaluated. An experimental arrangement having inclination 27º of glass cover & 0.25 m² basin area is engineered & investigated in environmental situations of Gorakhpur city. It is founded that SS with CuO nanofluid results 56.64% higher productivity as compared to SS without nanofluids. Convective & evaporative heat transfer coefficients for 0.15% CuO concentration were found to be 8.53 and 13.18 W/m2K respectively. SS with CuO gives 41.75 ml/day of distillate whereas without nanofluid it gives 18.1 ml/day. The distilled water obtained for 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% and 0.20% concentrations are 39 ml/day, 42 ml/day, 45 ml/day and 41 ml/day respectively. Comparative results show that CuO nanofluid at 0.15% concentration have higher productivity than others.