Enhancing the solar still output using micro/nano-particles of aluminum oxide at different concentrations: An experimental study, energy, exergy and economic analysis

Abstract In this work, the use of micro/Nano-particles of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) with various concentrations in solar still has been reported. Three solar distillers has been fabricated and tested: first distiller is a Conventional Solar Still (CSS), the second distiller is a Modified Solar Still (MSS) contains micro-particles of Al2O3 (MSS – 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% MP of Al2O3) and the third distiller is a MSS contains Nano-particles of Al2O3 (MSS – 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% NP of Al2O3). In this experimental study, the micro/Nano-particles of the Al2O3 concentrations are prepared at the concentration ratio of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%. From the experimental outputs by adding Nano-particles of Al2O3 with concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% in the CSS, the productivity of 4.9, 5.47 and 6.12 L/m2 has been observed. However, when using the micro-particles of Al2O3, the MSS productivity is equal to 4.07, 4.54 and 4.96 L/m2 for the concentrations equal to 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%, respectively. While the maximum productivity of the CSS without micro/Nano-particles of Al2O3 was 3.02 L/m2. Furthermore, the daily increase in yield of 62.25, 81.12 and 102.64% are obtained when using the Nano-particles of Al2O3 with the concentrations of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% respectively, as compared to the CSS. By using the micro-particles of Al2O3, the daily increase reaches only 34.77, 50.33 and 64.24% for the concentration equal to 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively as compared to the CSS.