Evaluation of solar distiller performance using steel wool pads, internal reflectors, and woven wire mesh: economic, environmental, and sustainability analysis

Different researches were performed by using thermal storage materials, solar concentrators, reflectors, and other technologies to increase the productivity of solar stills. The main objective of the present study is to enhance the basin solar still productivity by using ecomaterials from the wastes of workshops and factories. So, this study presents an experimental investigation of basin solar still performance using steel wool pads, internal reflectors, and woven wire mesh. The experimental setup was performed at Suez Canal University, Ismailia City, Egypt. Two solar stills were included: one represents the conventional design (CSS), and the second one is the modified with steel wool pads, internal reflectors, and woven wire mesh (MSS). Both solar stills were evaluated under identical climate conditions, considering water depths of 1, 2, 3, and 4 cm, and the required parameters were measured and tabulated during the working days. The results indicated that incorporating these modifications led to a notable increase in accumulative productivity and daily thermal efficiency with minimum cost per liter. The MSS enhanced the daily yield and thermal efficiency by 22.1% and 28.0%, respectively, versus CSS at a water depth of 1 cm. In addition, the energy production factor (EPF), energy payback time (EPT), and the average exergy waste were 1.2 years, 0.85, and 400.2 J, respectively, for MSS. The annual exergy output, environmental effect factor (EEF), improvement potential (IP), and sustainability index were 462.7 kWh, 10.4, 290.6 W, and 1.09, respectively, for MSS. Finally, the cost per liter and the annual CO2 reduction over a lifetime for CSS and MSS were 0.023 $/l, 17.4 tons, and 0.11 $/l, 20.4 tons, respectively. These results align with and reinforce previous publications on desalination, highlighting the potential of these modifications for addressing the pressing challenges of affordable and efficient water using solar energy.