Productivity Enhancement of Single Slope Solar Still Using Ground Energy

Abstract

In present work, the real situation near the seashores where wet sand is available in abundance with brackish water is being simulated and experiments were conducted. The experimental results are helpful for the coastal area where there is abundance of saline water but lack of potable water. The simulated performance of solar earth water still, suitable for very wet ground like beaches or swamps has been investigated. The still is essentially a single slope FRP still with a number of large holes in the bottom. Daily distillate output of this stills are reported. The three experimental arrangements were compared for the heat and mass transfer within the single slope solar still and the yield in the month of March at Raipur (Latitude 21.16N and longitude 81.42 E) India. It has been observed that the daily distillation yield is more in second case where surrounding mass of sand has been converted as heat storage that enhances heat and mass transfer. One more interesting conclusion is the fact that in still wet sand nearly behaves as a free water surface.

Keywords: Earth Water Still, Solar Distillation, Passive Solar Distillation, Glazing Effect, Sand Bed Solar Still

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