An atmospheric water harvester with a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) can extract water vapour from air. This study tested a prototype atmospheric water harvester with a TEC and evaluated the condensation flow parameters affecting the amount of water produced using experimental and numerical methods. This experiment was performed under controlled conditions (a temperature of 313 K and relative humidity of 85%) in a climate chamber for 8 h and under actual weather conditions in Kuwait for 8 h. The humid air condensed when the cooling surface temperature was less than the dew point temperature, and the produced water was collected. The experimental findings indicated that the dew point temperature increased with increasing relative humidity and the cooling surface temperature increased with increasing atmospheric air temperature. The numerical analysis involved modelling and simulation (for 8 h, similar to the experiment) under the boundary conditions of inlet air temperature, relative humidity, cooling surface temperature, and inlet air velocity. The temperature decreased from the inlet to the outlet because of condensation. A comparison of the results showed that the calculated amount of produced water was close to the experimental value. The results of this study will help enhance the efficiency of producing clean and safe drinking water.

All living organisms depend on water for their survival. Therefore, sufficient water availability is necessary for health. During the last few years, considerable progress has been made in the production of clean drinking water—particularly in the desalination industry. Various methods have been explored to boost the productivity of solar stills. The present review focuses on recent enhancement techniques aimed at boosting their performance—particularly those incorporating non-metallic nanofluids into the base fluid. The nanomaterials examined in this review include Al2O3, CuO, ZnO, and TiO2. Several studies adding Al2O3 in a solar-still desalination system resulted in an increase in distillate yield, better efficiency, reduced energy consumption, reduced thermal loss, and better productivity. The incorporation of CuO in a solar-still desalination system led to major improvements in performance. These included enhanced daily efficiency, better productivity, improved production of freshwater, and higher energy and exergy efficiency. The incorporation of TiO2 in a solar-still desalination system resulted in increased productivity, better thermal conductivity, better thermal efficiency, higher daily distillate output, and high levels of water temperature. It was also evident that the incorporation of ZnO in a solar-still desalination system resulted in a substantial increase in the output of clean water and occasioned improvements in productivity and overall efficiency. Together, these findings demonstrate the potential of these nanomaterials to significantly enhance the performance of solar-still desalination systems. Other nanomaterials that are yet to gain increased use, such as SiO2 and SnO2, have also been discussed. The collective results in this paper demonstrate the potential of nanofluids to enhance the performance and effectiveness of solar-still desalination systems. This review provides conclusive evidence of the positive effects of different nanofluids on the yield, productivity, energy, and efficiency of diverse types of solar stills, offering promising advancements in the sustainable production of water.

No abstract