Comparative Experimental Study of Single Slope Single Basin Solar Still

Abstract

Pure water scarcity has become vulnerable due to discharge of industrial effluents in water bodies. Rapid population growth has worsened the situation. It has been estimated that 50% of hospital beds are occupied because of water borne diseases. Solar still is a technique which can solve the problem. It uses green energy, has no electrical energy requirement. Installation cost is very low as compared to other water purification techniques. Different kinds of losses occur while using low grade form of energy as same thing occur in the case of I.C. Engines, which also have maximum efficiency 30-40%. Since there are no frictional losses in solar still so its efficiency can be improved. An experimental study was conducted at the Central Indian location of MAULANA AZAD NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Bhopal, M.P., India (Latitude 23.2599° N, Longitude 77.4126° E). Single Slope Single Basin Solar Still with blackened basin surface has efficiency of 35.05% which has increased to 43.64% when activated charcoal in powdered form was used. A sound increment in solar still efficiency had been observed.