Exploring the potential of MXene-based advanced solar-absorber in improving the performance and efficiency of a solar-desalination unit for brackish water purification

Thakur, A.K. and Sathyamurthy, R. and Saidur, R. and Velraj, R. and Lynch, I. and Aslfattahi, N. (2022) Exploring the potential of MXene-based advanced solar-absorber in improving the performance and efficiency of a solar-desalination unit for brackish water purification. Desalination, 526: 115521. ISSN 0011-9164

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Abstract

Brackish water desalination using solar still (SS) is a low-cost sustainable solution to global water scarcity, but this technology suffers from low yield and efficiency. The judicious amalgamation of highly conductive materials with superior solar absorption behavior is one of the most effective approaches to overcome this limitation. In this regard, the present work synthesizes a novel multilayered 2-D MXene from 3-D MAX phase as a coating material for the solar absorber of a SS to improve its performance. Two different loadings of MXene (0.05 and 0.1 wt%) were dispersed in turpentine oil/black paint (1:4) and coated onto the solar absorber of the SS. Higher MXene loading significantly augmented the thermal conductivity and solar absorptivity of the turpentine oil/black paint solution. The 0.1 wt% MXene coated absorber provided a higher heat transfer rate from the absorber to the water, leading to a 6% increase in water temperature and a total water yield of 2.07 kg. The theoretical calculated water yield was identical to the experimental yield with a deviation of ±5%, demonstrating the accuracy of thermal modelling. The average energy efficiency of the SS with 0.1 wt% MXene in the absorber black paint coating was 36.31%. Water quality analysis has shown that the distilled water resulting from the desalination is suitable for drinking. In conclusion, MXene with its excellent thermo-physical properties and solar absorptivity will be beneficial in development of efficient solar desalination units with augmented performance for water purification.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Journal or Publication Title:

Desalination

Additional Information:

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Desalination. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Desalination, 526, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2021.115521

Uncontrolled Keywords:

/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2312

Subjects:

?? absorber coatingenergy efficiencymxenesolar desalinationthermal performancewater qualitywater science and technologygeneral materials sciencegeneral chemical engineeringgeneral chemistrymechanical engineeringmaterials science(all)chemical engineering(all) ??

Departments:

Faculty of Science and Technology > Engineering

ID Code:

165224

Deposited By:

ep_importer_pure

Deposited On:

27 Jan 2022 16:55

Refereed?:

Yes

Published?:

Published

Last Modified:

03 Nov 2024 01:20

URI:

https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/165224