Performance Enhancement of Single Slope Solar Still Using Nano-Particles Mixed Black Paint

The present paper reports on an experiment to improve the productivity of solar still using nano-particles. Solar distillation is a relatively simple treatment of brackish or impure water. In this solar energy is used to evaporate water then this vapour is condensed as pure water. This process removes salts and other impurities. Latest trend to improve the efficiency of the solar still is use of nano-particles like metal oxides. These particles increase surface area of absorption to solar radiation. In this work the Al2O3 nanoparticles mixed black paint is used to enhance the productivity of solar still. The solar radiations are transmitted through the glass cover and captured by a black painted inner bottom surface of the solar still. Water absorbs the heat and is converted into vapour within the chamber of the solar still.Single slop solar still is used from past decades but in this study effect of nano-particles on productivity of solar still is analyzed. Experimental work is performed for the single slope solar still (SS-SS) under climatic conditions of Jaipur. The use of the nano-particles mixed with black paint increases the temperature of the solar still basin. The productivity and efficiency of solar still at water depth 0.01 m with nano-particles are 3.48 litre and 38.65% respectively which are maximum values compared to water depths 0.02 m and 0.03 m. Results of the study gives 38.09% increment in productivity and 12.18% increment in thermal efficiency when nano-particles of size 50 nm to 100 nm mixed black paint used at water depth .01 m. To check the significance of difference in productivity of solar still with and without nano-particle mixed black paint, a paired t-Test is performed which is conforms that the productivity enhancement due to nano-particle mixed black paint is significant at 95% confidence interval