Sustainable productivity enhancement of conical solar distillers using P eanut S hell bio‐waste: Energy and economic analyses

This experimental study aimed to improve the output of the Conical Distiller (CD) using low‐cost natural bio‐materials. Three CDs (simple CD (SCD), a CD with Natural Peanut Shells (CD‐NPS) and a CD with Black‐Painted Peanut Shells (CD‐BPS)) were fabricated for comparative analysis under identical climatic conditions. Experimental results revealed that the daily yields, energy, and exergy efficiencies for SCD, CD‐NPS, and CD‐BPS are 4.69 kg, 6.49%, 45.30%, and 7.43%, 31.23%, 52.06%, and 1.15%, 1.78%, 2.38%, respectively. The results showed that the daily yields of CD‐NPS and CD‐BPS increased by 38.4% and 58.4%, respectively, and the daily energy efficiency of CD‐NPS and CD‐BPS increased by 45.06% and 66.69%, respectively, compared with the SCD. The daily exergy efficiency of CD‐NPS and CD‐BPS increased by 54.20% and 106.64%, respectively, compared with the SCD. The economic analysis confirmed that integrating BPS is an effective and cost‐effective way to improve the CD yield.