Performance enhancement by integrating concentrated inclined solar still for jaggery production

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2024-10, Vol.307, p.132692, Article 132692
• Main Authors: Venkata Sai, P., Reddy, K.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Distilled water; Evaporation-condensation; Net-zero emissions; Pre-concentration; Solar energy; Thermodynamic analyses
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.132692

While unrefined sugar/jaggery consumption has various health benefits, unsustainable and inefficient production processes can negatively impact the environment and health. This study proposes a novel, sustainable approach to jaggery production using solar energy. The primary concentration is done in a VARS system, followed by the secondary concentration in a solar still field at low temperatures to maintain jaggery quality. The study presents experimental observations from the developed inclined solar still with external reflectors to preheat and concentrate the juice. In the absence of sun, the solar still field functions as an evaporation-condensation unit under auxiliary heating. By connecting several solar stills in series, the energy requirements from the PTC field can be reduced. The system is capable of producing a by product of distilled water, amounting to 169.78 kg/day, under varying solar radiation in April at Chennai, India. The overall energy efficiency of the system is 48.31 % under solar load, and 63.05 % under auxiliary heating. The system also leads to enhancement in CO2 mitigations, amounting to around 3134.7 tons of CO2 from dry bagasse combustion. Due to the added revenue from distilled water production, the system's payback period is reduced to as low as 4.89 years, depending on product selling price. •Sustainable, energy efficient solution for jaggery production using solar energy.•Two-stage pre-concentration of sugar cane juice at lower temperatures to retain quality.•Secondary pre-concentration of juice using evaporation-condensation unit leading to additional byproduct.•Experimental investigations on concentrated inclined solar still handling sugarcane juice.•Reduced economic payback period of system due to distillate byproduct.