Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering

Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering

Investigation of the Effect of Changes in Parameters of the Double Pass Solar Air Collector on the Water Production Rate in the Solar Still Coupled wi

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Parisa Azari 1
Arash Mirabdolah Lavasani 2
Nader Rahbar 3
Kamyar Mohammadi 4
1 PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Water and Wastewater Company of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Energy and Sustainable Development Research Center, Islamic Azad University, Semnan Branch, Semnan, Iran.
4 MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Water and Wastewater Company of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.
10.22112/jwwse.2025.499425.1437
Abstract
In this work, a solar still is thermally coupled with a double pass solar air heater with a V-grooved absorber plate to enhance the overall thermal efficiency and freshwater productivity. A mathematical model is developed to evaluate the influence of key air-heater design and operating parameters on the performance of the active solar desalination system. The conventional configuration of the solar still is modified by incorporating a dedicated duct beneath the basin to facilitate the passage of heated air. The hot air discharged from the solar air heater flows through this duct and increases the temperature of the basin water, thereby intensifying the evaporation process. The effects of absorber plate tilt angle, V-groove height, absorber–glass spacing, air-heater length, and air mass flow rate on the freshwater yield are systematically investigated. The results reveal that reducing the inlet air mass flow rate from 0.059 to 0.015 kg/m²·s leads to a 61% enhancement in freshwater production, mainly due to the increased heat transfer from the heated air to the basin water. In contrast, variations in the other examined parameters exhibit no appreciable impact on the productivity of the solar still.
Keywords
Solar Still
Double Pass Solar Air Collector
Water Production
Air Mass Flow Rate
 
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Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering
Volume 10, Issue 3
Autumn 2025
Pages 19-28

  • Receive Date 18 January 2025
  • Revise Date 18 March 2025
  • Accept Date 13 May 2025