Parametric study and heat transfer mechanisms of single basin v-corrugated solar still

A transient mathematical model was presented for a single basin solar still with v-corrugated basin liner. The model was based on an analytical solution of the energy balance equations for various elements of the still assuming the temperatures of the inner and outer surfaces of the still covers are not equal. The performance of the still was investigated by computer simulation using the climatic conditions of Tanta (lat. 30 degrees 47 ' N, long. 31 degrees E), Egypt. The calculated results showed that the v-corrugated plate had improved both the daily productivity and daily efficiency by a relative percentage difference of approximately 24% compared to the case when a flat basin liner of the same area of 0.437 m(2) was used. Effects of basin water mass and the number, height, and the half angle of the "vee" on the daily productivity and efficiency of the still were studied. To validate the proposed mathematical model, the simulated results were compared with the results presented in the literature for a v-corrugated solar still. It was concluded that the proposed model is able to predict the still performance during sunshine hours with good accuracy.