Theoretical modelling for experimental study of solar still with integrated built-in condenser

Abstract

Solar distillation is regarded by many researchers as one of the important methods of utilizing solar energy to solve water scarcity problems mainly in arid areas where solar energy is abundant and water resources are limited. The main drawback of the solar desalination using solar stills is its low efficiency and production rate. Researchers have been focusing on ways and means to enhance the productivity rates of the solar stills. The authors previously investigated experimentally the effect of incorporating passive built-in condenser into a conventional solar stills productivity rate. This study a theoretical model has been developed and analyzed to predict different parameters governing the production rate of the conventional solar still with incorporated built in condenser. The model calculates the hourly production rate, the accumulated production rate, the saline water, the still basin, the glass cover temperatures and the steel condenser temperatures. The predicted values were analyzed and compared with the experimental results The results showed a good agreement with experimental results. The trends of the theoretical and experimental results agree well. The theoretical enhancement of the condenser follows those of the experimental results.