Performance enhancement of tubular solar still using nano-enhanced energy storage material integrated with v-corrugated aluminum basin, wick, and nanofluid

• A study on performance enhancement of tubular solar still using nano-enhanced PCM integrated with v-corrugated aluminum basin, wick, and nanofluid was experimentally performed. • The results showed that the proposed system increments the daily freshwater by about 88.84 % • The thermal energy efficiency enhancement was about 82.16%, the exergy efficiency was approximately 221.8%. • The cost per liter of freshwater reduced to 22.47 %, compared to conventional tubular solar still. Herein, five alternative combinations were applied on and under the still basin to enhance tubular solar still performance. Firstly, using a v-corrugated aluminum basin. Secondly, adding wick material to the v-corrugated aluminum basin. Thirdly, adding carbon black (CB) nanofluid on wick material located on the v-corrugated aluminum basin (heat localization). Fourthly, using phase change materials (pure paraffin wax) under the v-corrugated aluminum basin integrated with wicks and carbon black nanofluid (1.5 wt.%). Finally, the best case consists of the v-corrugated basin combined with wick, 1.5 wt.% CB nanofluid and CB nanoparticles with 3 wt.% were added to paraffin wax under the basin. The results showed that the productivity was enhanced by 21.4, 42.77, 58.48, 73.56, and 88.84% for the cases with the previous order. For the best case (fifth case), the thermal energy and exergy efficiencies were enhanced by 82.16 and 221.8%, respectively, whereas the cost could be saved by 22.47 %, compared to the conventional tubular solar still. Accordingly, the proposed materials and their combinations led to acceptable and feasible enhancement in the tubular solar still performance due to the improved heat transfer characteristics, and hence the increased evaporation rate.