Tubular solar-energy collector integration: Performance enhancement of classical distillation unit

The current study discusses a new design regarding embedded simple distiller to a solar collector cylindrical shape. Investigating the performance improvement is based on solving transit thermal energy balance equations which can predict temperatures in different locations of the still. Introducing the pre–heater system was also modeled using a third ordinary differential equation for water as a working fluid. In order to validate the obtained findings, Dunkle's model was employed and outputs compared to previous works. Results demonstrated that the collector contributes appreciably in augmenting the basin water temperature higher than a simple still case and both couples of distillate amounts and instantaneous efficiencies were respectively (∼2.77 kg/m2, ∼4 kg/m2) which an augmentation rate of yield of ∼ 44.40% and (∼40%, ∼80%) for the passive and active targets. The total cost of the collector materials was estimated to be about 63 US Dollars which represents a cheap price. Moreover, a critical issue was examined around heat losses of the proposed solar heater. At this stage, used empirical correlations available in literature enabling UL prediction (overall heat loss coefficient) of the former and flat–plate collector method has been performed. It was reached that the TSC can perform against a FPC with lower heat loss. Other parameters such as painted receiver, absorbtivity–emissivity effects and environmental circumstances have all influenced the TSC performance were also analyzed.