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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM65460
Volume:
10 |
6 |
Jun 2026
Pages:
1-6
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Mechanical Engineering
Nadimpalli Satyanarayana Raju Institute of Technology, Autonomous, Visakhapatnam
Mechanical Engineering
Nadimpalli Satyanarayana Raju Institute of Technology, Autonomous, Visakhapatnam
The growing global demand for potable water and the depletion of freshwater resources have intensified the need for sustainable desalination technologies. Solar desalination has emerged as a promising environmentally friendly solution due to its low operating cost and renewable energy utilization. However, conventional solar stills suffer from limited productivity because of intermittent solar radiation and poor thermal energy storage. To address this limitation, phase change materials (PCMs) have been widely integrated into solar desalination systems to enhance thermal storage capacity. Among various PCMs, paraffin wax has received significant attention due to its favorable thermal properties, chemical stability, and cost effectiveness. Recently, the incorporation of nanoparticles into PCMs has shown remarkable improvements in thermal conductivity and heat transfer characteristics. In particular, bio-derived nanoparticles such as banana-based nanomaterials offer sustainable and low-cost alternatives for thermal enhancement. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in solar desalination systems incorporating nano-enhanced PCMs. The study summarizes the thermophysical properties of paraffin wax-based nano-PCMs, examines the role of nanoparticles in improving heat transfer, and reviews experimental and numerical investigations related to solar still performance enhancement. Furthermore, the potential application of banana nanoparticles in paraffin wax is critically discussed. The review highlights key research gaps, including limited studies on bio-based nanoparticles in solar desalination systems and the need for systematic experimental validation. The findings suggest that integrating banana nanoparticles with paraffin wax could significantly enhance solar desalination efficiency and provide a sustainable pathway for improving freshwater production.
KEYWORDS
Solar desalination is a promising sustainable technology for addressing global freshwater scarcity. The integration of phase change materials into solar stills significantly enhances thermal energy storage and improves freshwater productivity. Nano-enhanced PCMs further improve thermal conductivity and heat transfer characteristics, resulting in higher desalination efficiency. This review highlights the potential of banana nanoparticles as sustainable nano-additives for paraffin wax-based PCMs. Although limited studies have investigated bio-based nanoparticles in solar desalination systems, their renewable nature and cost-effectiveness make them promising candidates for future research. Further experimental and numerical investigations are required to fully understand the thermo physical behavior of banana nanoparticle-enhanced PCMs and their impact on solar desalination performance.
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Publication Date
6/25/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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