• Novel solar distillation domes with preheating heat pipes and spiral-coil storage is studied. • A series of CFD simulations are performed to indentify the optimal configuration for freshwater distillate maximization. • Energy, exergy, economic, exergoeconomic, exergoenvironmental, and enviroeconomic analyses are conducted. • Optimal configuration of solar distillation dome yields frehwater of 10. 72 kg of daily operation. • Energy and exergy efficiencies reach up to 74. 36% % and 8. 30%, respectively. Solar-based saltwater desalination is regarded one of the most essential technologies for addressing the global water scarcity. This study aims to develop a compact design and novel configurations of solar distillation dome (SDD) with spiral-tube absorber basin coupled with preheating heat pipes and phase change material storage bed. A steady-state conjugate numerical CFD model was developed and validated against field experimental data to simulate the fluid flow and heat transfer behaviour of the proposed system. Modified SDD with spiral-tube absorber basin coupled with preheating heat pipes and PCM storage bed (MSDD), and reference solar distillation dome (RSDD) are designed. Simulations are performed using solar flux values ranging from 200 to 1000 W/m² and solar collector flow rates between 10 and 30 ml/s to identify the optimal operating conditions. Then, the technical feasibility, performance, and operation of the optimal configurations of solar domes (RSDD and MSDD) designed by CFD simulations, are thoroughly simulated, compared, and evaluated under the summer harsh climate of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Finally, a comprehensive heat transfer analysis of novel solar distillation dome designs is also conducted augmented by a 6E assessment (energy, exergy, economic, exergoeconomic, exergoenvironmental, and enviroeconomic). The daily freshwater yield obtained 10. 72 kg/d/m 2 for MSDD and 6. 56 kg/d/m 2 for RSDD, achieving a 63. 41% improvement compared to the RSDD. Moreover, the daily energetic efficiency of MSDD and RSDD is estimated as 74. 36% and 50. 11%, yielding a retention rate of 48. 40% over RSDD. The daily exergy effectiveness of MSDD and RSDD reached 8. 30% and 3. 85%, representing an enhancement rate of 115. 62%, respectively. In addition, the results of enviro-economic analysis reveal that the LCOW and CO 2 mitigated emissions of the MSDD are estimated as 0. 0117/kg and 139. 22 t CO2, respectively. Conclusively, the proposed innovative solar distillation dome represents a promising design configuration for decentralized and sustainable freshwater production in harsh-climate conditions.
Zayed et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: