Software to analyze solar stills and an experimental study on the effects of the cover

Ghoneyem A., Ileri A.

DESALINATION, vol.114, no.1, pp.37-44, 1997 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 114 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 1997
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/s0011-9164(97)00152-5
  • Journal Name: DESALINATION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.37-44
  • Keywords: solar still, solar distillation, transparent cover, efficiency
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Four single-effect, basin type solar stills were designed, constructed and tested. Three stills had a glass cover of different thicknesses (3, 5, 6 mm) while the fourth cover was plastic. The still with the thinnest glass cover had shown the highest production rates, up by 15.5%. Empirical equations were obtained to express the dependency of the yield on the ambient temperature and solar radiation. Also, software was prepared to solve the governing equations numerically so that the effects of various parameters on the output could be investigated. For one of the glass covered stills, the measured yield was compared with the prediction.