Performance analysis of a double-slope solar still with elevated basin - comprehensive study

Solar distillation is an effective method of generating potable fresh water in areas where there is abundant sunshine with adequate water that is unfit for human consumption or other activities. In the current study, an experimental and theoretical analysis was performed to evaluate the productivity of a modified solar still having an elevated basin. This improvement was achieved by raising the basin inside the distiller. The elevated basin helps in reducing the thermal losses from the bottom and sides of the distiller because the air gap between the basin and both the bottom and sides of the distiller acts as an insulator. All tests were carried out under the weather conditions of the Baghdad-Iraq region during the months of February, March, April, and May. The average distilled water outputs per square meter for the experimental period were 3.03 and 4.37 L for the conventional solar still (CSS) and elevated-basin solar still (EBSS), respectively. The average percentage increment in the fresh water production from the EBSS was found to be 36.7% (relative to that of the CSS). It was evident that the theoretical model predicted the trends very well, with some deviations from the experimental values. The average difference between the theoretical and experimental findings in total productivity was found to be between 4% and 8%. The estimated average cost of the distillate water was $0.027/L m(2) for the EBSS.