Improving the solar ethanol distillation system by combining the heat pipe and parabolic trough collector

This research examines the advantages of utilizing heat pipe technology with parabolic trough collectors in solar ethanol distillation systems. The goal of this work is to optimize the ethanol yield and concentration generated from the distillation of the ethanol-water mixtures from various types of feedstock. Laboratory experiments were conducted to analyze the effect of charged concentrations (2 % to 10 % v/v) and the properties of feedstock (pineapple, sticky rice, and molasses) on the distillation. The results indicate the feedstock types and charged concentration significantly affected the rate of output and ethanol yield. The amount and concentration of distilled ethanol from molasses (385 ml, 70 % v/v) was higher than that of sticky rice (375 ml, 68 % v/v) but highest from pineapple (395 ml, 72 % v/v). Even though pineapple resulted in the highest overall distillated ethanol, pineapple and sticky rice are costly feedstock, as well as increasing complexity in the ethanol production process, which could result in a reduction of value added investments. Implementing renewable solar energy yield ethanol for reduced operating cost or better benefit overall production to underpin a sustainability aspect of agriculture compared to standard conventional distillation. This research contribution to the solar ethanol distilling process, production of biofuels, and interest in renewable fuel sources.