Enviro-cost analysis of PCM incorporated ETC integrated solar still under forced mode
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51976/v7dwah42Keywords:
Active solar still, Phase change material, Cost analysis, Carbon credit, Payback time.Abstract
The potable water can be produced most economically from saline/brackish water using solar still. The productivity can be further enhanced by increasing the basin water temperature and storing the dissipated thermal energy from the solar still by using energy storage materials for re-utilization at night. In the present study, considering the environmental revenue earned, an economic analysis of the viability of a single slope solar integrated with an evacuated tube collector (ETC) and paraffin wax (PCM) has been carried out. The ETC integrated solar still increased the yield by ~30.0% when paraffin wax was incorporated compared to the system without PCM, yielding annually to 1683 kg/m2. The net CO2 mitigation, considering the 20 years life of the system, has been found to be 31.5 tons with a net annual environmental cash flow return of Rs. 1325. With the increase in the system’s life from 10-20 years, the cost of distillate decreased from Rs. 1.28 to Rs. 0.31 per liter at a 2% interest rate considering carbon credit. The payback period has been found in the range of 1.5-17.4 years for a system life of 10 and 20 years, respectively, at an interest rate range of 2-10%, and if distillate is sold at a selling rate from Rs. 10.0-2.0/kg. The production cost from the present system is in the acceptable range compared to other designs with PCM.
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