Experimental Investigation of Single Slope Solar Still by Varying Water Depth and with External Reflector

Abstract

Solar distillation converts salt water into drinkable water, requiring minimal maintenance and energy-saving. However, the desalination process has drawbacks because the system's slow evaporation and condensation rate leads to low freshwater output. Consequently, this method is not widely utilized due to its limited productivity. To address this issue, the study's primary aim was to enhance the productivity of the single-slope solar still. This was achieved by altering the water depth from 3 cm to 6 cm and incorporating an external reflector. The experiments were conducted in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India (11.0168° N, 76.9558° E), with a condensing cover inclined at 11 degrees. The research occurred on varying days between October and November 2023, with water depths ranging from 3 to 6 cm. A comprehensive analysis investigated the influence of different factors on daily production, such as ambient temperature, solar intensity, and inner and outer glass temperatures. The experimental results indicate that the solar still with a single basin, operating at a water depth of 3 cm, achieved the highest water productivity (2.68 L/day) and displayed the best efficiency (30.52%) compared to 4, 5, and 6cm depths. Furthermore, incorporating an external reflector into the solar system still demonstrated a notable elevation in temperature, resulting in a significant boost in water productivity of 3.085 liters per day. This improvement also led to an increase in efficiency of 35.1%.