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Modification and Testing of Parabolic

Concentrator Solar Water Distiller

S. Bhatnagar1, R. Chordia

2, D.S. Shekhawat

3, S.K. Yadav

4, M.K. Sain

5

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Swami Keshvanand Institute of Technology M&G, Jaipur

[1, 2, 3, 4] Final Year Undergraduate Students, Dept. of Mech. Engg, SKIT M&G, Jaipur.

[5] Reader, Dept. of Mech. Engg, SKIT M&G, Jaipur.

ABSTRACT

The modification and testing of a Parabolic

Concentrator Solar Water Distiller is the objective in

order to enhance the efficiency as well as the usability

of the existing product, better performance is ensured

by the control through microprocessor and sensors

and so did the overall operation by using a Chain

Drive mechanism. The power unit is simply a battery

and a solar panel which also is used to track the sun’s

position along with the equipped microprocessors.

The reduction in weight is achieved by using

reflective aluminum metal sheets in place of mirrors,

thus making the set-up reliable enough to withstand

routine life bumps.

I. INTRODUCTION

Human life sustainability depends mainly on water

and the supply of energy. Industrial Growth caused

a deprivation of fresh portable water due to

contamination which resulted in the dispossession

of the water resources. The existing distillation

plants use fossil fuel as a source of energy. Solar

energy is one of the most acceptable energy

sources; its direct use eliminates the operating cost.

Solar distillation is a simple and attractive

technique as compared to other distillation

processes suited to small units in areas where solar

energy is widely abundant.

Solar distiller design claims harmony of efficient

usage of energy, water leakage prevention, real

time tracing, user friendliness, safety and

portability.

A. Objective:

The major aim of the project include the enhancing

of the efficiency of a parabolic concentrator solar

water distiller as well as to increase the usability of

the product; to achieve this microprocessor

controlled solar tracking is used along with the

concentrator unit in order to maximize the usability

and efficiency, other priorities include the overall

reduction of weight which is achieved by removing

the existing mirror and mesh setup and using the

reflecting aluminum metal sheets in its place which

resulted in better reflection of the sun rays.

B. Previous Developments:

Parabolic Concentrator Solar water distiller were

firstly developed as very simple devices used for

the purpose of water distillation using solar energy

but they weren’t efficient and their usability was

not up to the mark.

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Next was the development and launch of Parabolic

Concentrator Solar Water Distillers mated along

the Solar Trackers ensuring maximum usability and

increased overall efficiency but were very costly

and their maintenance cost was also very high.

C. Maintenance:

The advantages are that the product is low on

maintenance and the maintenance cost is also less,

minimal maintenance such as the lubrication of the

mechanical parts: Chain Drive Mechanism is

required, motor, battery; circuits etc. require extra

attention. The product being automatic should not

be disturbed during operation.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

A. Historical Development:

Parabolic Concentrator Solar water distiller were

developed as simple devices used for the purpose

of water distillation using solar energy but due to

the fact that they weren’t as efficient and their

usability was questionable [1, 6, 7].

Advancement saw the Parabolic Concentrator Solar

water distillers mated along the Solar Trackers

which ensures the maximum usability and

efficiency, due to this the maintenance and running

costs were reduced [2, 5, 9].

B. Parabolic Concentrators:

The type of parabolic concentrator solar water

distillers include simple non adjusting solar water

distiller, single axis solar water distiller and dual

axis solar water distiller it also depends upon with

the type of tracker mated [1, 2, 5, 10].

C. Solar Distillation:

Solar energy which is found in abundance and has

no such by- products or environmental hazards and

thus by converging the sun rays to a particular

focus results in the availability of heat energy

which further can be used in order to distill the

water adequate for regular domestic purposes [3, 4,

8].

III. DESIGN

A. Concept Selection and Finalization of Design:

Concept was selected as it was feasible, realistic

and can be completed. The modification of the

frame unit was done by detaching the mirrors and

attaching the reflective aluminum metal sheets,

fabrication of a support frame system on which the

parabolic dish is mounted at an angle of 27 degree

as the latitude of Jaipur is 27 degree North [11], for

movement of the dish the provided input was

provided by bearings on both the ends of the shaft

on which the dish is mounted which is further

connected to a gear chain mechanism powered and

controlled by the stepper motor getting input from

the microprocessors, there is battery as well as

solar panel present for energy input purpose.

B. Components:

1. Iron Framework

The framework is made by welding square

iron bars together.

2. Concentrating Dish

The Parabolic Concentrating Dish is

simply a dish but instead of using mirrors

as the reflecting media, reflective

aluminum metal sheet is used for the

same, the sheet is fastened to the dish by

the help of nut and bolts.

3. Chain Drive Mechanism and Bearings

The chain drive mechanism includes the

basic parts of the same mechanism that is

found in a simple bicycle such as the

bearings, chain, 48T chain ring and 18T

cogset.

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4. Stepper Motor

Two-way Stepper Motor of 7.5 amp rating

is used; it has the specifications as 60

RPM and Torque of 23 N-cm.

Fig.1: Schematic Diagram.

5. Solar Panel

21V 20W Solar Panel is an essential

component in tracking sun’s position as

well as is useful in recharging the battery

by converting the solar energy into

electrical energy.

6. Battery

A 12V 7.5A Battery is used for powering

the whole system, as it is self-sufficient in

driving the wiper motor and the electrical

components of the circuit.

7. Microprocessor

The electrical circuit houses the Arduino

Uno microprocessor encoded with the

computer program using embedded C

language by which the movement and the

tracking will be done and controlled.

C. Working:

The Fig.2 shows the working of the Parabolic

Concentrator Solar Water Distiller along with the

different components and their functions which are

depicted in the form of responses.

Fig.2: Flow Diagram of Working.

IV. CALCULATIONS

AC= Diameter of the Concentrating Dish

BC= cos 27 * 122 = 108.702 ~ 108 cm

AB= [(AC)2 – (BC)

2] = 56.745 ~ 57 cm

Fig. 3: Frame Dimensions.

V. RESULT

The modification done resulted in significant

increase in the efficiency and the usability of the

product as the Average Annual Peak Daytime in

Jaipur city is only 6 Hours [12, 13] i.e. the product

is only useful for the specified amount of time

throughout the day; whereas the Average Annual

Daytime is 8 Hours 50 minutes [12, 13] for which

the product can be used for the distillation purpose

for 170 minutes more thus increasing the efficiency

by a considerable 47%.

Average Annual Peak Daytime = 360 min/ day

Average Annual Usable Daytime = 530 min/ day

Average Annual Daytime = 730 min/ day

Increase in Average Annual Usage/ day = 170 mins

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Fig. 3: Average Annual Increased Usage.

Percentage Increase in Usage = (170/ 360) * 100

= 47.22 % ~ 47%

Efficiency Increase as compared to the Original

Product = [(530-360)/530]*100

= (170/530)*100

= 32.07 % ~ 32%

Overall Efficiency Increase = [(530-360)/730]*100

= (170/730)*100

= 23.28 % ~ 23%

VI. CONCLUSION

The Modification and testing of the Parabolic

Concentrator Solar Water Distiller being

successfully performed yielded the results

revealing a significant 47% more usability and

efficiency of the product as compared to its

predecessor is increased by 32% and the overall

increase in efficiency is 23%, the frame work is

sturdy enough to handle routine life bumps, the

product is lightweight so that it can be portable, the

overall user experience is simple yet productive.

The modified product employs a single axis

tracking mechanism which can only respond and

adapt to the sun’s position and the inclination of the

dish is totally dependent upon the latitude of the

location where it is to be installed thus when

moving away from the location can result in the

non-function ability of the product, to tackle this

the dish mounting mechanism can be updated to a

Double axis mechanism where one axis will be

responsible for the sun tracking task while other

can be used for adjusting with the latitude of the

location of installation.

REFERENCES

[1] Bello- Ochende, T., and Meyer, J.P., “Solar Tracking for a

Parabolic Dish used in Solar Tracking,” Journal, Dept. of Mech.

& Aero. Engg., University of Pretoria, pp. 3, 13.

[2] Chaichan, M.T., and Kazem, H.A., 2014, “Water solar

distiller productivity enhancement using concentrating solar

water heater,” Elsevier Case studies in Thermal Engg., 5, pp.

151-159.

[3] Saha, P., and Goswami, S., 2014, “Light Sensor based

automatic solar tracking system using parabolic reflector and

lens focusing action for maximum power point tracking,”

IJETAE, 4 (2), pp. 286-289.

[4] M.F.El-Refaie, Performance analysis of the stationary-

reflector/ tracking- absorber solar collector, 1989, Energy

Conversion and Management 29 (2), pp. 111-127.

[5] S.T. Ahmed, Kh.I. Abaas, Water distillation enhancement

using domestic solar water heater, 2008, 26 (5).

[6] Garg H.P. and Prakash J., 2000 “Solar Energy” Tata

McGraw-Hill, New Delhi.

[7] Gowtham, M., Sharath Chaner, M., Mallikarujanan, K.V.,

and Karthikeyan, N., 2011, “Concentrated Parabolic Solar

Distiller with Latent Heat Storage Capacity”, IJCEA, 2 (3), pp.

185- 188.

[8] Stine W.B. and Harrigan R.W. (1985) “Solar Energy

Fundamentals and Design”. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New

York.

[9] J. Rizk, and Y. Chaiko “Solar Tracking System: More

Efficient Use of Solar Panels” Proceedings of World Academy

of Science, Engineering and Technology Volume 31 July 2008

ISSN 2070-3740.

[10] Alternative Energy Tutorials, Parabolic Trough Reflector,

2011, http://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/solar-hot-

water/parabolic-trough-reflector.html

[11] latlong.net, <http://www.latlong.net/place/jaipur-rajasthan-

india-5130.html>

[12] Weather Spark beta, <https://weatherspark.com/

averages/33936/Jaipur-Rajasthan-India>

[13] The Weather Channel, < http://www.weather.com/>

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