Effectiveness of partially and fully submerged triangular cross-sectional metal hollow-fins and wool cloth wick-fins on triangular pyramid solar still.

Abstract

Rapid growth in population and industrialization causes the worldwide crisis for potable water, which is emphasizing on researchers to find an alternative way. Solar still is a solar energy-based device facing the problem of low productivity. The motive of the present investigation is to improve the productivity of triangular pyramid solar still by incorporating triangular cross-sectional aluminium hollow-fins and wool cloth wick-fins. In two sets of experiments, the performance of the triangular pyramid solar still with hollow-fins, wick-fins, and without fins has been compared for the case of partially and fully submerged fins. The total distillate outputs per day (including nocturnal duration) from stills for the case of partially submerged fins were: 2.5674 L/m2 (12.36% higher) with hollow-fins, 2.5481 L/m2 (11.51% higher) with wick-fins, and 2.2850 L/m2 for without fins. For the case of partially submerged fins, the productivity was observed higher for the still with wick-fins during morning hours (9:00h to 13:00h), whereas for the still with hollow-fins during afternoon hours (14:00h to 17:00h). For the case of fully submerged fins, total distillate outputs per day (including nocturnal duration) from stills were: 2.2529 L/m2 (9.00% higher) with hollow-fins, 2.3042 L/m2 (11.49% higher) with wick-fins, and 2.0668 L/m2 for without fins. For the still with hollow-fins and wick-fins, efficiency was improved by 13.22% and 15.70% in the case of partially submerged fins, and 17.36% and 29.34% in the case of fully submerged fins. The enhancement in the efficiency of the still with wick-fins and hollow-fins was observed higher for the case of fully submerged fins than the case of partially submerged fins.