Journal of Solar Energy Research

Productivity Augmentation of a Solar Still with Rectangular Fins and Bamboo Cotton Wick

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Mechanical Engineering Department, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed To Be) University, Mullana, India

2 Mechanical Engineering Department, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed To Be) University, Mullana

3 Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra, India

4 Department of Agriculture, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed To Be) University, Mullana, India

10.22059/jser.2023.356414.1279

Abstract

For desalinating seawater and brackish water, a basic and inexpensive device known as a solar still is used. The limited amount of freshwater output that can be obtained from a solar still is its primary flaw, which limits its global use and applicability. The improvement of a solar still's freshwater output is the main goal of this research. Two identical single slope solar stills are created for this purpose, and one of them is changed by adding rectangular aluminium fins and a bamboo cotton wick to the still basin. This modified still is called. The other still that hasn't been altered is known as a standard still. In this experimental study, Kurukshetra, India (29.96°N, 76.87°E) weather conditions are used to evaluate both stills. At varying water depths of 1 cm, 2 cm, and 3 cm, the performance of the modified still and the conventional still are concurrently compared. According to experimentation's findings, 1 cm of water depth is where both stills' daily productivity and optimum water temperature are attained. The daily productivity of the solar still improved by about 19% when bamboo cotton wick was spread over the rectangular fins in the still basin.

Keywords

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Journal of Solar Energy Research
Volume 8, Issue 2
April 2023
Pages 1410-1416