2022
Chapter 4
EXPERIMENTAL WORK
DESALINATION PROJECT 2022
ZAGAZIG UNIVERSITY | Mechanical Engineering Department
Chapter 4 Experimental Work
Chapter 4
Experimental Work
4.1. Experimental Set-up
Two solar stills are designed and fabricated to compare performance under
various conditions. These stills have single basin solar still having basin area (60
cm × 70 cm) with high side wall of 45 cm and low side wall of 20 cm. Stills were
fabricated from galvanized sheet having a thickness of 1.5 mm. The basin was
insulated from outside and bottom by insulating material (glass wool) of
thickness 4 cm for reduction of heat loss from the basin to the outside
environment.
In the conventional solar still, inner surfaces of bottom and side wall of the basin
were coated in black to increase the absorption of solar energy. The top of basin
is covered with 5 mm thick glass sheet inclined at nearly 23° with the horizontal.
The modified solar still has same dimensions as of conventional still. In addition
to 16 blocks of ferrite magnet.
Both solar stills have been sealed by insulating and adhesive silicon paste at the
top to prevent vapor leakage from the basin to atmosphere. Condensate from
inner surface of glass is accumulated in channel at lower side of the basin and
further collected to a jar connected to channel by plastic tube.
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Chapter 4 Experimental Work
Figure (4.4) A Views of solar
still
Figure (4.4) B
Main components of
the two units
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Chapter 4 Experimental Work
4.2. Experimental Procedure
The experiment has been performed in months of March, May and June 2022 at
Zagazig University, Mechanical department (latitude 30.585° N; longitude
31.485° E) Egypt. A photograph of the solar still experimental set up is shown
in (Figure 4.5). The experiments were performed from 9:00 Am to 4:00 Pm . We
made the experiment with water depth of 3 cm for some days and 5 cm in another
days.
Figure (4.5) Photographic view of the experimental set-up
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Chapter 4 Experimental Work
4.3. Components of Solar Still Unit
Item Description
Galvanized iron sheet metal of 1.5mm thickness is used and
1 Sheet Metal
the entire system area is 60x70 cm2
A glass cover of 5mm thickness is placed over the top of the
2 Glass Cover
surface of the solar still.
Glass wool is used as an insulating material made from
3 Glass Wool fibers of glass arranged using a binder into a texture similar
to wool.
16 Blocks Magnets is used and the dimension is 40x20x10
4 Block Magnets
mm.
8, 12 thermocouples of type T are used to measure
5 Thermocouples
temperature of CSS and MSS respectively.
Saline Water Tank, Feed Valve, Discharge Valve, Collecting
6 Attachment
Tray (Built-in).
4.4. Measuring Instruments
Several instruments were used to measure various performance depending
parameters. The temperatures at different points of the still, such as water region,
vapor region, inner glass surface, outer glass surface, and ambient temperature, have
been measured by using k-type thermocouple having least count 1°C.
Thermocouples were connected to digital temperature indicator. The distillate output
was measured by flask having capacity of 2,000 ml with least count of 10 ml. The
Solar intensity was measured with the help of lux meter. The device TDS-3 was used
to measure water salinity with maximum capacity of 10000 ppm. The Instruments
are shown in the below figures.
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Chapter 4 Experimental Work
Figure (4.6). TDS-3 Device. Figure (4.7). Lux Meter.
Figure (4.8). digital temperature gauge Figure (4.9). Fresh water Flask with
with the range of (-180 to 1300 °C) capacity of 2000 ml.
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Chapter 4 Experimental Work
4.5. General Description
1. The salt water used in the two units
2. Two solar still are designed and fabricated to compare performance under
various conditions.
3. The developed solar still operation begins with filling the salt water tank.
4. Water is flowing down to the desalination unit from the water tank.
5. The glass cover permits solar radiation to get into the sun collection center
which is reflected totally to the water to be desalinated.
6. The absorber is heated by direct sun rays.
7. Consequently, the absorber gets heated up and so the water.
8. The glass cover traps the solar energy inside the still it also reduces the
convective heat losses.
9. The water vapor condensed on the glass slips into the desalinated water
stream and then exits through the valve to the fresh water flask.
4.6. The Main Parameters Affect Experimental Results
1. The ambient temperature.
2. The depth of water.
3. The variation of solar intensity on day.
4. Wind Velocity
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Chapter 4 Experimental Work
4.7. Thermocouples Calibration
Figure (4.10) Calibration curve of thermocouples
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Chapter 4 Experimental Work
4.8. Thermocouples Distribution
Thermocouple’s locations are shown in the tables below and Figure (4.11)
4.8.1. MSS Unit
Measuring Point Number of Thermocouples
Glass 2 thermocouples at different positions
Unit floor 2 thermocouples at different positions
Unit wall 1 thermocouple at different positions
Air in unit 3 thermocouples at different positions
Block Magnets 4 thermocouples at different positions
4.8.2. CSS Unit
Measuring Point Number of Thermocouples
Glass 2 thermocouples at different positions
Unit floor 2 thermocouples at different positions
Unit wall 1 thermocouple at different positions
Air in unit 3 thermocouples at different positions
Figure (4.11) Thermocouples distribution in the two units
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