Enhancement of solar still performance using various phase change materials: A critical review

Abstract

Background: Water scarcity is one of the most severe global issues. Desalination is the most preferred solution for this problem. Use of renewable energy for desalination purpose is the key for sustainable development. Solar stills are used to produce potable water using solar energy in a sustainable manner. However, the performance of solar stills is degraded majorly due to intermittent nature of sun. Phase change materials (PCM) are generally used with solar distillation systems in order to overcome this serious limitation. Methods: This paper reviews the application of different phase change materials in solar distillation systems and their effects. The choice of appropriate phase change material along with their advantages and limitations are discussed in detail. The enhancement in the performance of solar stills using various phase change materials is reported. Significant findings: Phase change materials are found to be very beneficial for enhancement of the performance of solar stills. These enhance the yield of solar stills along with improving their reliability. Paraffin wax is found to be the most widely applied phase change material for solar stills due to its physical properties, easy availability and economic reasons. © 2024