Investigation of Exergy and Energy with Fibre Reinforced Plastic Composite (FRP) Tube Based Solar Still using PCM material via Theoretical and Computational Approach

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | Issue : 01 | Page : 66 78
    By

    Ashish Kumar Shrivastava,

  • T Ravi Kiran,

  • Tejkaran Narolia,

  • K Viswanath Allamraju,

  1. Phd Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Centre for Renewable Energy, Rabindranath Tagore University, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, India
  2. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rabindranath Tagore University, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rabindranath Tagore University, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, India
  4. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

A FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymer) material-based solar still is an advanced design approach in solar desalination systems, where the traditional construction materials (like metal or concrete) are replaced or enhanced with FRP composites. A FRP composite material tubular solar still is a lightweight desalination equipment with a substantial condensing area in comparison to other types of solar stills. Nonetheless, their effectiveness is often limited by fluctuating climatic circumstances. This study examines two primary research issues. The first focus is on improving the heat coefficient for evaporation (he,w-g), the heat coefficient for convection (hc,w), exergy output Ex(out), and efficiency of FRP composite material tubular solar still without usage of phase change materials. The second involves the development of a phase change material-based system, wherein paraffin wax fills a 1-liter copper bottle. The current study uses CFD modelling to investigate how geometrical factors, operational basin temperature, and basin water temperature affect a FRP composite tubular solar still’s performance with FRP composite material (TSS). The results indicated that the standard FRP composite tubular solar still achieved an exergy efficiency of 43.3% and an exergy output of 76.30 W at peak temperature at 1 PM. The findings indicated that redesigned tubular solar still achieved an exergy efficiency of 49.61% and an exergy output of 113.24 W at peak temperature at 1 PM during daytime.

Keywords: CFD, conventional solar still, exergy efficiency, FRP composite material, Tubular solar still

[This article belongs to Journal of Polymer & Composites ]

How to cite this article:
Ashish Kumar Shrivastava, T Ravi Kiran, Tejkaran Narolia, K Viswanath Allamraju. Investigation of Exergy and Energy with Fibre Reinforced Plastic Composite (FRP) Tube Based Solar Still using PCM material via Theoretical and Computational Approach. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2025; 14(01):66-78.
How to cite this URL:
Ashish Kumar Shrivastava, T Ravi Kiran, Tejkaran Narolia, K Viswanath Allamraju. Investigation of Exergy and Energy with Fibre Reinforced Plastic Composite (FRP) Tube Based Solar Still using PCM material via Theoretical and Computational Approach. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2025; 14(01):66-78. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=238322


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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 14
Issue 01
Received 24/06/2025
Accepted 22/07/2025
Published 27/12/2025
Publication Time 186 Days
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