Comparative study on double slope solar still using different absorber basin tray materials

Abstract

Increase in population and depletion of water resources by livelihood and exploitation for industrial and
other process requirements necessitates purification and recycling of contaminated water as a conservative measure
apart from desalination. Solar still is a simple device used for converting water from such sources into pure one. The
performance and distillate production of a solar still is influenced significantly by various parameters like intensity of
solar radiation, temperature difference between surface water and glass cover plate, collector area, water depth, glass
thickness and insulation. In this research, various absorber basin trays made up of Copper, Aluminium, Stainless Steel
and Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) have been used in the double slope solar still. This experimental analysis has
been carried out to harness the maximum solar energy inorder to yield higher distillate output. Solar still with Copper
basin tray exhibited a better performance than the others. The results of solar still with GFRP basin tray is comparable
to that of the others and thus shall be employed by modifying and improving the design of solar still by taking into
account its life and ease of maintenance.