Siaka Toure

Technical note Cold storage and autonomy in a three compartments photovoltaic solar refrigerator: experimental and thermodynamic study

In this paper, we report the results of the study of the first model of solar photovoltaic refrigerator with three compartments: one for vaccine and medicines storage, the second one for the personal use of the medical staff, and the third one for water freezing. A cold storage is made around the evaporator in order to give the system several days of autonomy.

Theoritical and experimental studies of a solar still type suitable for alcoholic distillation

Throught this work, a theoritical and experimental study of a small solar still of a domestic type with two distinct compartments has been lead. It is shown in this study that the Dunkles relation about the productivity of a classical still can be applied to our system in order to predict reasonably the production of our still. We have then put the stress on alcohol distillation for this model in order to adapt solar distillation to alcohol distillation. On this field, the results show well that solar energy can perfectly be used to produce alcohol with our prototype.

Experimental study of an optimised solar still type with two condensing compartments suitable for alcoholic distillation

An optimised solar still prototype suitable for alcoholic distillation was designed and tested. Its design is different from the single slope conventional solar still. It consists of two compartments which are in communication by a slit. One of the two compartments contains an absorber. In a previous work, the area S of the absorber was 0.29 m2 and the slits width e was experimentally optimised. As for the prototype studied in the work, it was realised with the optimal width found in the previous work and an absorber area S equal to 0.965 m2. The energy exchanges within the still were studied, mainly the heat transfers by convection, evaporation-condensation and radiation. Then an experimental testing of the solar still was performed, both for water and alcoholic distillation. In the case of the water distillation, two days were selected. The temperature measurements allowed the calculation of the heat exchanges. The experimental productivity of the still was determined, as well as its efficiency. As for the alcoholic distillation, two days were also selected. The productivity was determined for the two compartments. The evolution of the alcohol rate of the distillates was also studied.