Comparative performance of spherical, hemispherical, and single-sloped solar distillers

Abstract

The productivity of a solar still is profoundly influenced by its design. This study presents a comparative analysis of the daily yield and energy efficiency of three distinct solar still designs—spherical, hemispherical, and single slope—to ascertain the optimal configuration. The investigation involved the design and fabrication of three solar still prototypes: spherical, hemispherical, and single slope. The results revealed that the spherical distillation design achieved the highest cumulative productivity, reaching 5.5 kg/m²/day, whereas the hemispherical design yielded 4.45 kg/m²/day, and the single-slope design produced 3.1 kg/m²/day. The daily distillate was notably enhanced by 77.42% and 43.55% for the spherical and hemispherical designs, respectively, in comparison to the single-slope design. The efficiencies of the spherical, hemispherical, and single-sloped designs were 44%, 40.5%, and 35%, respectively. The primary conclusion drawn is that spherical distillation markedly elevates the yield compared to hemispherical and single slope distillation configurations. Therefore, the adoption of a spherical solar still is recommended for the reliable production of safe drinkable water.