Enhanced behavior of solar stills with modified absorber surfaces: Comparative analysis of floating wick designs

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shree Venkateshwara Hi-Tech Engineering College, Gobichettipalayam 638 455, Tamilnadu, India
² Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, K S R Institute for Engineering and Technology, Tiruchengode 637 215, Tamilnadu, India
³ Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore 641 021, Tamilnadu, India
⁴ Assistant Professor, Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Sona College of Technology, Salem 636 005, Tamilnadu, India
⁵ Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 638 401, Tamilnadu, India
⁶ Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai 638 060, Tamilnadu, India
⁷ Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nandha College of Technology, Perundurai 638 052, Tamilnadu, India

^* Corresponding author: dr.r.girimurugan@gmail.com

Abstract

Different shaped floating wick (FW) material in the basin improved the efficacy of a single slope solar still (SS). Thermocol is used to support a basin in which cotton wicks are suspended. The three forms of modified solar stills (MSS) are analyzed, each with a unique absorber geometry. Absorber surfaces in the MSS-RCT (Rectangular teeth), MSS-ITT (Isosceles Triangular teeth), and MSS-HCT (Half-circular teeth) configurations are made up of FW layers. These improved designs are far more efficient and effective than the Conventional solar still (CSS). All MSS absorber surfaces produce more potable water than the CSS experiment does for the bulk of the workday. The MSS-HCT process achieved a maximum daily yield that was on par with that of the other modified stills and a 68 % increase in daily yield compared to the CSS process.