Combined sensible heat and nano-enhanced latent heat energy storage for solar thermal evaporation: an experimental approach

The need for water can be seen in many aspects of our daily lives. It is used for drinking, washing, cooking, and cleaning. Water is an essential and invaluable resource that maintains an unceasing demand, warranting prudent conservation efforts. In the present experimental investigation, sensible heat energy storage and nano-enhanced latent heat energy storage are utilized in the SSS to augment thermal performance. Doping commercial paraffin wax with 50-nm zirconium oxide nanoparticles improves heat stability and thermal characteristics. The thermophysical properties of the ZrO₂ nanoparticle-doped paraffin wax is examined, and it is found that the thermal conductivity of the nano-enhanced paraffin wax with a maximum concentration of 0.5% by mass is enhanced by about 54.83% while compared to paraffin wax. Waste soda cans can store latent heat thermal energy with nano-enhanced PCM. Rubber and nano-enhanced latent heat thermal energy storage improve heat transfer and thermal performance in the SSS basin. Results showed that the SSS without any thermal energy storage produced a cumulative yield of 2.76 kg m^{− 2}, whereas the SS with modified nano-enhanced PCM and sensible heat as rubber sheet produced a maximum of 5.02 kg m^{− 2}. Similarly, the combined effect of nano-enhanced PCM and sensible heat energy storage augmented the SS performance by about 19.3 and 45.01% than the SS with nano-enhanced PCM and without any thermal energy storage, respectively. Before undergoing desalination, the initial water quality parameters of pH, TDS, and electrical conductivity were determined as 8.2, 2654 ppm, and 1.12 dS cm^{− 1}, respectively. After completion of the desalination process, these values were notably lowered to 7.2, 552 ppm, and 0.12 dS cm^{− 1}, respectively. Importantly, the results of the water quality analysis adhere to the drinking water standards outlined by the WHO guidelines.