Effect of rectangular, triangular, and semi-circular hybrid nano phase change material chambers under permanent magnetic field on the stepped solar still efficiency: An experimental study

Water has been considered one of the most important human needs since the beginning of human existence. This experimental study investigates the impact of utilizing hybrid nanomaterials (Fe₃O₄ + Graphene oxide) in phase change material (NPCM) under consideration of magnetic field on the production of a uniquely designed stepped solar still. The major aim of this research is to compare three different geometric hybrid NPCM chambers’ performance on the daily production of the stepped solar still. So 4 cases of experiments have been set and performed, namely, stepped solar still 1. Without NPCM, 2. With rectangular hybrid NPCM chambers, 3. With triangular hybrid NPCM chambers, and 4. With semi-circular hybrid NPCM chambers. To add the hours of the distillation process after sunset, the hybrid NPCM was applied. Cases 2 to 4 were experimented with under the permanent magnetic field, too. The daily productivity of Case 1, Case 2, Case 3, and Case 4 without magnetic field were 900 ml/day, 1580 ml/day, 1663 ml/day, and 1730 ml/day, respectively. The outputs indicated that Case 4 had the best accomplishment among all experiment cases. Case 4 of the experiment under the magnetic field yielded the highest daily efficiency of 15.6 %, whereas Case 1 only achieved 7 %. The daily productivity of the stepped solar still with semi-circular NPCM chamber, triangular NPCM chamber, and rectangular NPCM chamber has been enhanced by 92 %, 85 %, and 75 % without magnetic field and 131 %, 113 %, and 100 % under permanent magnetic field, respectively.