A solar still with minimum inclination, coupled to an outside condenser

Abstract

The effect of adding an outside passive condenser to a single-basin-type solar still with minimum inclination (4°) was investigated experimentally. Direct solar radiation heated the saline water and evaporated it. A fraction of the resulting vapor condensed on the inner glass cover surface while the rest was purged and diffused to the outer condenser to be condensed there. The proposed solar still worked perfectly and the daily yield was up to 71 m.d (sun radiates the still for 8 h only because of obstacles). Solar radiation, ambient temperature and the temperatures at different points in the evaporator and in the condenser were measured. The efficiency during June, July and August was improved up to 75%. When the solar still was operated without a condenser, the yield decreased to 70% of that with the condenser.