Enhancing the productivity of hemispherical solar distillation by using energy storage (rubber) and wick materials at different thickness

Abstract

The yield produced from conventional hemispherical solar still (CHSS) is limited. Modified hemispherical solar still (MHSS) using rubber and wick materials at the basin of the HSS are examined in this research paper. To experimentally studied the effect of rubber materials at different thicknesses (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mm) and wick materials at a different thicknesses (1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 mm), under the same operating conditions, three equal HSS units are designed and constructed. The experiments were conducted in four days, under the climatic conditions of the city of El Oued-Algeria. The experimental results showed that a rubber material at a different thickness (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mm) improves the yield by 14.29, 26.53, 35.71, and 46.94%, respectively as compared to the CHSS. Also, using wick materials at different thicknesses (1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 mm) improves the yield by 12.24, 22.45, 30.61, and 40.81%, respectively, as compared to the CHSS. This modification is very efficient and inexpensive because rubber and wick materials are available at a cheap price. After comparing the yield of HSS according to the thickness of the rubber and wick materials used, we found that the more thickness of the materials (rubber and wick), the better the yield. Therefore, we recommend using thicker materials.