CFD simulation for determining the entropy generation inside the tubular solar still

Water scarcity is becoming a global crisis. One of the solutions for this crisis is using renewable energy including solar energy to purify saline water. Solar stills can turn saline water into drinking water by using solar energy. Solar stills’ main problem is their low productivity. In this study we used CFD simulation to compute heat and mass transfer inside a solar still. We simulated solar still based on double diffusive natural convection phenomenon. The results showed good agreement between CFD simulation and experimental data reported in the literature. The results also indicate that by increasing Rayleigh number, total entropy generation will increase as well. Moreover, thermal entropy generation is higher near the water surface, while, viscous entropy generation is higher near the glass cover and trough wall.

Keywords:

Solar still , CFD simulation , Heat and mass transfer , Double diffusive natural convection , Entropy generation