A comprehensive review of nano-enhanced phase change materials on solar stills with scientometric analysis

• Published in: Results in engineering 2024-06, Vol.22, p.102088, Article 102088
• Main Authors: Omara, Z.M., Ahmed, Mohamed M.Z., Alawee, Wissam H., Shanmugan, S., Elashmawy, Mohamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Nano-enhanced PCMs; Nanoparticles; Solar desalination; Solar stills; Thermo-enviro-economic analyses
• ISSN: 2590-1230; 2590-1230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.102088

In recent years, solar stills systems have garnered a lot of interest and have been thoroughly researched. It is currently thought that using Nano-enhanced phase change materials (NE-PCMs) as a solar still's thermal-storage medium is an efficient way to raise the still's efficiency. This paper aims to present an extensive overview of the latest developments in PCMs systems for solar stills that are enhanced by nanoparticles. Solar stills systems use a variety of heat transfer augmentation techniques, such as fins, porous carriers, microencapsulated PCMs, NE-PCMs, and system configuration modifications to enhance their heat conductivity. Regarding this, a thorough study has been covered comprising the effect of some important nanoparticles improved PCM such as Ag, CuO, Al2O3, GO, graphene, carbon-Nano tube on solar stills distillation systems. A summary of the uses of NE-PCMs in various solar still configurations, including conventional, pyramid, tubular, and tray solar stills, is provided. This paper also reviews all the attempts to address the limitations, which include the low thermal conductivity of PCMs, the water production and thermal efficiency of solar stills, as well as economic and environmental difficulties. Furthermore, a scientometric analysis of the literature available in the area of utilizing PCMs in solar still distillation is carried out to analyze the main journals, authors, funding, countries, and keywords in the research area. •Review on Nano-enhanced phase change materials (NE-PCMs) for enhanced performance and scientometric analysis of solar stills.•The thermo-enviro-economic analyses of different solar stills with NEPCMs are provided.•The productivity of solar stills increased by 3–35% as a result of the PCM properties being improved by the addition of nanoparticles.•The optimum concentration for GO, Ag, CuO and Al2O3 nanoparticles is 0.3–3 wt % of the PCMs.•Promising future scopes of work on the solar stills with Nano-enhanced phase change materials.