Enhancement of Single-Effect Solar Still Productivity Using a Rotating Aluminum Mesh Cylinder

Abstract

A solar still is a device that distills fresh water from a closed basin of impure water. Purified water evaporates due to the sun’s radiant energy, condenses onto the roof of the basin, and is collected. This study aims to increase the productivity of a single-effect solar still prototype by implementing a boehmite-coated aluminum mesh cylinder into the still, which increases its evaporative surface area. Given the experimental conditions of four outdoor trials, we concluded that doing so allows distillate production to begin 1 hour earlier even on days with a lower rate of solar radiation, although the rate of production stays the same during production hours. As a result of the earlier production time, we found that the modified solar still had a higher total daily production and a higher efficiency compared to the unmodified solar still. The clarity of these results can be accentuated by insulating the solar still prototype, increasing the size of the rotating cylinder to maximize the increase in surface area, and cooling the cover glass to facilitate condensation.