Performance of a multiple-wick solar still with condenser

Abstract

In a conventional still, because the water condenses underneath a glass cover, its temperature becomes quite high. During the period of maximum sunshine, the glass temperature is higher than the dew point of the air-vapour mixture inside the still. Thus the yields of these kinds of stills are low. In this communication we have investigated experimentally the performance of a still with a condenser. Most of the condensation now takes place in the condenser, consequently the glass temperature remains low causing less heat loss to the ambient environment. The yield of the condenser-type still is higher than that of the non-condenser-type still.