Graphite powder mixed with black paint on the absorber plate of the solar still to enhance yield : an experimental investigation

Abstract

The main goal of present article is to see how adding graphite powder and black paint to the absorber plate can increase solar still yield. Therefore, two identical in size solar stills called modified solar still (MSS) and Conventional solar still (CSS) have been fabricated and tested in Patan district, Gujarat, during October 2019. MSS used graphite powder mixed with black paint, and CSS used as reference still in current research work. The current research was done with tap water as the raw water. Graphite powder concentrations have varied from 20% to 40% found 10.5 to 17% enhancement in yield. Mixing carbon powder with black paint shows improvement in a rise in water temperature and heat transfer rate than CSS. According to the results, the yield of MSS was higher than the yield of CSS during experimental days. It is concluded that the payback time of MSS with 20% weight concentration and CSS found 117 days and 121 days.