Solar desalination is the most promising approach for obtaining clean water from brackish water in an arid area having scarcity of potable water as well as electricity. In the present study, experimental, energy, exergy, and economic analysis of single basin solar still using phase change material with and without pin fins as absorbing materials was undertaken. For the analysis, three cases were considered, namely Case I: conventional solar still, Case II: solar still with phase change material, and Case III: solar still with phase change material and pin fins. Palmitic acid was used as the PCM in the solar still, with variation in the mass of PCM (0 kg, 3.67 kg, 7.34 kg, and 11 kg) and the mass of water (4.9 kg, 9.8 kg, 14.7 kg, and 19.6 kg) considered as study parameters. The total accumulated productivity in Case II and Case III improved by 24 % and 30%, respectively, as compared to Case I. The energy and exergy efficiency were found highest for the solar still with PCM and pin fins (Case III). Based on the payback period and the cost per liter of potable water generated, it can be concluded that the usage of solar still using the PCM material along with the pin fin is a cost-effective option.

在缺乏饮用水和电力的干旱地区，太阳能淡化是从微咸水中获得纯净水的最有前途的方法。在本研究中，进行了单盆太阳能的实验，能量，火用和经济分析，仍然使用具有和不具有针状鳍片的相变材料作为吸收材料。为了进行分析，考虑了三种情况，即情况I：常规太阳能蒸馏器，情况II：具有相变材料的太阳能蒸馏器，以及情况III：具有相变材料和针状鳍片的太阳能蒸馏器。棕榈酸被用作太阳能蒸馏器中的PCM，PCM的质量（0 kg，3.67 kg，7.34 kg和11 kg）和水的质量（4.9 kg，9.8 kg，14.7 kg和19.6）有所不同。 kg）作为研究参数。与案例I相比，案例II和案例III的总累积生产率分别提高了24％和30％。发现带有PCM和针状鳍片的太阳能蒸馏器的能源和火用效率最高（案例III）。根据投资回收期和每升饮用水的成本，可以得出结论，仍然使用PCM材料以及针状鳍片的太阳能仍然是一种经济有效的选择。