Cost analysis of single slope solar still.

The energy-exergy and environ-economic (4E) analysis was conducted on a solar still with and without a hybrid thermal energy storage system (TESS) and a solar air heater. The proposed solar still was modified by integrating a rectangular aluminium box filled with paraffin wax and black gravel as the TESS and coupled with a solar air heater. Paraffin wax was selected due to its widespread availability and proven effectiveness in accelerating desalination, improving process uniformity, and maintaining optimal temperature levels. Throughout the experiments, meticulous data on mass loss, air velocity, and temperature were recorded for both conditions. The daily energy efficiency varies from 40.80% to 31.72%, showing a reduction rate with increased water depth. Estimates were made on the average exergy efficiency, losses, outflow, and inflow for the solar still. These were done for both setups. The analysis revealed that CO2 mitigation and credit were more favorable with the TESS. Furthermore, the Energy Payback Time (EPBT) for the hybrid heat storage-based single-slope solar still coupled with a solar air heater is 1.87 years. On the other hand, EPBT values for the hybrid heat storage single-slope solar still and the conventional single-slope solar still were 1.65 years and 0.95 years, respectively. Integrating a thermal energy storage system and solar air heater significantly improved the performance and sustainability of the solar still for desalination, making it a more efficient and environmentally friendly option for freshwater production.

针对搭载混合式热能存储系统（Thermal Energy Storage System, TESS）与太阳能空气加热器，以及未搭载该两类装置的太阳能蒸馏器，开展了能-㶲（energy-exergy）与环境经济（4E）分析。本次研究所提出的太阳能蒸馏器经改造后，集成了填充石蜡与黑砾石的矩形铝制箱体作为热能存储系统，并与太阳能空气加热器相耦合。选用石蜡作为储能介质，系因其来源广泛，且经证实可有效加速海水淡化进程、提升过程均匀性并维持最优温度水平。实验全程针对两种工况，均细致记录了质量损失、空气流速与温度相关的详实数据。该太阳能蒸馏器的日总能效率介于40.80%至31.72%之间，且随水深增加呈下降趋势。研究人员针对两种试验装置，分别估算了太阳能蒸馏器的平均㶲效率、㶲损失、流入量与流出量。分析结果表明，搭载TESS的装置在二氧化碳减排与碳信用收益方面表现更优。此外，搭载太阳能空气加热器的混合储能式单斜面太阳能蒸馏器的能量回收期（Energy Payback Time, EPBT）为1.87年；与之相比，仅搭载混合储能系统的单斜面太阳能蒸馏器与传统单斜面太阳能蒸馏器的能量回收期分别为1.65年与0.95年。集成热能存储系统与太阳能空气加热器后，可显著提升用于海水淡化的太阳能蒸馏器的性能与可持续性，使其成为淡水生产中更高效且环保的技术选择。