Augmented performance of tubular solar still integrated with cost-effective nano-based mushrooms

The current work aimed to enlarge freshwater production and improve tubular solar still (TSS) performance via pure and nano-coated (with carbon black nanoparticles) mushrooms. Pure mushrooms were used due to their structure that allows effective vapor generation through achieving good solar absorptivity, capillary effect, and heat localization on the surface. In addition, carbon black coating was proposed to improve surface absorptivity, heat localization, and thermal conductivity. The performance of the developed TSS (DTSS) was evaluated, compared to conventional TSS (CTSS), through a series of tests: first using pure mushrooms, and then via three quantities of carbon black (CB) nanocoating (25, 50, and 75 g/m2). Besides, the thermal performance was analyzed from the heat transfer coefficients, energy and exergy efficiencies points of view. Finally, a feasibility study was conducted by calculating the cost per liter of the yield for all cases. The results revealed that, compared to CTSS, the productivity increased by 59.05%, achieving a saving in production cost by 33.85 % using nanocoated mushrooms (DTSS with 50 g/m2). Besides, the thermal performance was enhanced by 55.38 and 129.95% for energy, and exergy efficiencies, respectively. Hence, the proposed work introduced an effective and feasible improvement in the field of TSSs.

Automated summary

The study aimed to increase freshwater production and enhance the performance of tubular solar stills by using pure and carbon black-coated mushrooms. Results showed that using nanocoated mushrooms led to a significant improvement in both productivity and energy efficiency.