NUMERICAL MODELING OF TWO-PHASE HEAT TRANSFER DURING EVAPORATION AND CONDENSATION INSIDE A SOLAR STILL

This research presents a comparative analysis of two solar still configurations utilizing the ANSYS 2023R2 software package for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The study employs the Volume of Fluid (VoF) model to simulate phase transitions between liquid and vapor, specifically focusing on vaporization processes. It is important to note that the VoF model used in this study primarily serves to visualize vaporization, with its numerical results aligning with theoretical expectations rather than providing practical applications. The relevance of this research is underscored by the global drinking water crisis, which drives the need to enhance the efficiency of desalination systems. Solar distillation is recognized as one of the most environmentally sustainable methods for producing clean water, making it an appropriate focus for this investigation. The primary objective of this work is to conduct a numerical analysis of the solar still, compare the performance of two different configurations, and evaluate potential modifications to improve the system's efficiency. The study simulates heat transfer processes within the distiller, the distribution of vapor volume fractions, and temperature variations over time. The findings indicate that the dual-slope configuration outperforms the single-slope configuration in terms of efficiency and productivity. Additionally, the research provides insights into the physical processes occurring within the distiller and identifies potential areas for further refinement of the system's modeling in ANSYS.

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