Effect of coating of waste toner powder weight concentration on absorber plate of solar still

Abstract

A solar still is a device that uses sun energy to convert brackish or salted water into drinkable water and its distillate output is lower. In addition, it is the primary issue with the solar still; thus, researchers are looking for fresh ideas to raise the distillate output. The primary goal of this study is to examine the effects of mixing different weight concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) of toner waste powder (TWP) nanoparticles with black paint on distillate output and energy–exergy efficiency analysis. Two solar stills of similar dimensions have been used in the current study from February to March 2023 at Palanpur, Gujarat, India. Basin water, inner glass surface temperature, distillate output, and intensity of solar radiation are all monitored hourly for solar stills. This research indicates that the application of TWP coating to absorber plates increased the distillate output, and the highest distillate output of 955 ml was achieved at 10 wt. % concentration of nanoparticles, which is 40.03% higher than a conventional solar still (CSS) and 33.38%, 10.40%, and 30.64% higher than 5, 15, and 20 wt. % concentrations of nanoparticles at the same water depth, respectively. In addition, it was discovered that adding TWP to the solar still enhanced energy and exergy efficiency. Based on this research, it can be concluded that TWP is a suitable, inexpensive resource to boost energy and exergy efficiency and distillate output of solar still.