Single Basin Solar Still with Varying Depth of Water: Optimization by Computational Method

Abstract

Solar still is a device, used to convert brackish water into distill water but the major issue low profitability and it is imperative to outline an ideal device. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation can help designers to improve the execution of a sun oriented still for a given cost. In this study, we examine the capacity of CFD simulation in calculation of heat and mass transfer in a single basin sun powered still. Experiments were performed in month of June in Jaipur, India. In this work, single basin solar still was fabricated and then optimized using CFD based methodology for water depth of 0.01m, 0.02m and 0.03 m. CFD based results help in a designing a solar still with maximum yield productivity of distilled water. It was concluded that maximum yield was achieved when water depth has minimum value i.e. 0.01 m. Total dissolved solid (TDS) value for sample water taken at water basin was in range of 500 PPM but after distillation water at output reaches below 50 PPM. Therefore, solar still was capable of improving the quality of water and brackish water of high TDS value can be reduced and used for drinking purpose.