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The conventional solar still (CSS) unit faces challenges such as low productivity (Pd) and thermal efficiency (ηth) due to the limited temperature difference between the hot water and the cold interior glass cover surfaces (ΔTw-gi). This study addresses these issues by introducing enhancements in the CSS unit, incorporating a v-corrugated-type basin, internal reflecting mirror, flat-plate solar collector (FPSC) still, and FPSC nanofluids. A v-corrugated-type basin, internal reflecting mirror, FPSC still, and FPSC nanofluids elicited a significant improvement in the distillate productivity (Pd) up to approximately 22.39%, 41.72%, 70.10%, and 104.13% compared to the CSS unit. This increase in the Pd is attributed mainly to a notable raise in the ΔTw-gi, showing increments of around 34.33%, 52.32%, 77.37%, and 112.87% compared to the CSS unit. Moreover, a v-corrugated basin, internal reflecting mirror, FPSC still, and FPSC nanofluids substantially increased the average daily thermal efficiency (ηth), around 22.01%, 26.71%, 39.57%, and 56.21%, respectively. The results confirmed that integrating the v-corrugated basin, internal reflecting mirror, FPSC still, and FPSC nanofluids within a combined seawater distillation system can significantly enhance the performance of the CSS unit. These different combinations effectively raised the basin water temperature (Tw) and ΔTw-gi, consequently improving the overall performance of the solar still unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles have attracted substantial attention for their diverse range of applications, particularly in biomedicine applications and drug delivery, owing to their unique properties. However, their tiny size facilitates easy cellular entry, which can also lead to interactions with cellular components, potentially resulting in toxicity and undesirable effects. In this study, a novel nanocomposite formulation was developed using biopolymers, specifically ethylcellulose and collagen, as capping and stabilizing agents to create bimetallic nanoparticles including TiO2@Cr2O3 nanoparticles. Physicochemical and morphological analyses were carried out to validate the formulation's structure. The obtained characteristics emphasized the presence of a nanostructure involving bimetallic nanoparticles. This formulation exhibited excellent biological activity, including high biocompatibility with Vero and WI38 cells at concentrations of 40.4 and 52 µg/mL, respectively, as well as effective anticancer activity with significant selectivity. The IC50 values were determined to be 19 and 22 µg/mL for MCF7 and A549 cells, respectively. The antimicrobial assessment revealed the highest MIC value for A. niger at 50 µg/mL, while the lowest MIC value was observed for Gram-positive bacteria at 3.12 µg/mL. Additionally, the nanocomposite demonstrated antioxidant activity at a low concentration of 1.5 µg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absorption efficiency of a solar collector using different types of nanofluids was improved. Experimental work was carried out to investigate the flat‐plate and evacuated‐tube collectors under outdoor conditions to produce distilled water. A pilot plant was designed and installed. The yield of distilled water at different seawater flow rates and the physical properties of nanofluids were determined. Solar intensity, water mass flow rate, and temperature were measured. The performance of the desalination unit was evaluated in the presence of carbon nanotubes in paraffin wax and ethylene glycol nanofluids. The evaporation efficiency of the flat‐plate collector was improved up to 36 % in the presence of ethylene glycol nanofluid at 80–100 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In the current study, a newly developed low photovoltaic concentrator (LCPV) equipped with nanofluid‐based cooling channels, directly contacting the rare LCPV, was examined in detail. Nanofluid acts as a coolant that flowing over the back of LCPV to maintain its optimal operating temperature with the best overall performance. The coolants used are water and aluminum oxide (Al2O3)/water nanofluids 1%, 2%, and 3% by volume concentration. When circulating a 3%‐Al2O3/water nanofluid, the temperature of the LCPV module is dropped by 16.47°C compared to the uncooled module and keeps its operating temperature under 45°C during the experimental tests. This reduction in the LCPV module temperature with V‐trough reflector mirrors in turn increased its performance. The results revealed that the daily electrical output power of the uncooled LCPV module was 1646.85 W, whereas, was 1870.55 W with (13.58%) improvement with the case of water cooling. However, cooling with 3%‐Al2O3/water nanofluid, the power output of the LPVC was 2319.88 W with (24.02%) and (40.86%) enhancement compared to pure water cooling and without cooling respectively. The rise in the volume fraction ratio of Al2O3 nanoparticles remarkably decreases the operating temperature of the LCPV module and improves both electrical and thermal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-alloys tubes are used in the falling-film evaporator of the multi-effect distillation (MED) that is the dominant and efficient thermal seawater desalination process. However, the harsh seawater environment (high salinity and high temperature) causes scale precipitation and corrosion of MED evaporators' metal tubes, presenting a serious technical challenge to the process. Therefore, the metal/metal alloys used as the material of the MED evaporators' tubes are expensive and require high energy and costly tube fabrication process. On the other hand, polymers are low-cost, easy to fabricate into tubes, and highly corrosion-resistant, but have low thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, thermally conductive fillers can enhance the thermal conductivity of polymers. In this article, we carried out a feasibility-study-based techno-economic and socioeconomic analysis, as well as a life-cycle assessment (LCA), of a conventional MED desalination plant that uses titanium tubes and a plant that used thermally enhanced polymer composites (i.e., polyethylene (PE)-expanded graphite (EG) composite) as the tubes' material. Two different polymer composites containing 30% and 40% filler (expanded graphite/graphene) are considered. Our results indicate that the MED plant based on polymer composite tubes has favored economic and carbon emission metrics with the potential to reduce the cost of the MED evaporator (shell and tubes) by 40% below the cost of the titanium evaporator. Moreover, the equivalent carbon emissions associated with the composite polymer tubes' evaporator is 35% lower than titanium tubes. On the other hand, the ozone depletion, acidification, and fossil fuel depletion for the polymer composite tubes are comparable with that of the titanium tubes. The recycling of thermally enhanced polymers is not considered in this LCA analysis; however, after the end of life, reusing the polymer material into other products would lower the overall environmental impacts. Moreover, the polymer composite tubes can be produced locally, which will not only reduce the environmental impacts due to transportation but also create jobs for local manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]