Excel Modeling and Performance Evaluation of Solar Still: Comprehensive Analysis
Abstract
Water scarcity is a pressing issue worsened by population growth and industrialization, necessitating efficient and sustainable water purification methods. Conventional solar stills (CSS) offers a promising solution but suffers from low productivity and large area requirements. To address these limitations, this study explores the use of Microsoft Excel as a tool for modeling the performance of a conventional solar still. Through Excel, complex thermal processes involved in solar distillation can be simulated and analyzed, aiding in design optimization and performance evaluation. This paper presents a detailed algorithm for modeling CSS in Excel, utilizing Dunkle's semi-empirical relations to predict distillate yield. Visual Basic applications (VBA) functions are developed to automate property evaluations and heat transfer calculations. Experimental data from a CSS setup are used to validate the model, demonstrating a decent agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results, as listed in the literature. It has been observed that the distillate output and efficiency of the solar still, as predicted by the model proposed by Dunkel, show variations of 16% and 19% from the experimental results. These variations are acceptable, as stated in the literature as well. Overall, Excel modeling proves to be a user-friendly and versatile tool for modeling solar stills.