Numerical simulation of mezcal production using a Solar distiller, Compound Parabolic Collectors (CPC’s) and water as working fluid

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.3174152421059

• Palavras-chave: Destilador solar de mezcal, Concentradores Cilíndricos Parabólicos, Transferencia de calor, Criterio de Rincón, hélice de cobre, destilador de mezcal de cobre

• Keywords: Solar Mezcal distil, CPC`s, Heat transfer, Rincon´s Criterion, copper helicoidal, copper mezcal distiller

• Abstract: The distillation technique used to obtain mezcal consists of raising the temperature of a copper alembic, which contains cooked chunks of the heart of the agave -called "piña"- mixed with water, to a temperature in the range of 80 and 90 degrees Celsius. To reach these temperatures, the traditional technique uses the burning of logs of different species of trees and natural gas or LP gas, so, most of the heat source used is unsustainable. Here the simulation of a mezcal distiller using water which passes through a solar Compound Parabolic Concentrator truncated according to the Rincon’s criterion [1] and a copper coil to heat the still is presented. Temperatures on the outside of the copper coil and inside the still of the system are presented in 3D simulations to show that using solar energy a controlled process can be achieved, much more sustainable that the one currently used to obtain the product. Finally, a schematic diagram of the process in frontal and isometric view is presented.