Experimental investigation of the performance of a single‐slope solar still under Aswan climate conditions

Abstract

Abstract Solar desalination has been introduced as it provides several environmental and economical advantages. In which, the desalination process depends mainly on the intensity of solar irradiance and ambient temperature. However, the desalination potential under intensive solar radiation flux of Aswan, Egypt (up to 1100 W m−2 and ≥45 °C in summer) had never been tested. This study was to experimentally evaluate the performance of two single‐slope solar stills with air gap distances of 17 and 37 cm, and a fixed water depth of 2 cm in Aswan climate. In addition, an ultrasonic atomizer was implemented to study the effect of the water atomization process on the yield and performance of the solar still. The results showed that reducing the gap distance from 37 to 17 cm increased the yield of the solar still by 70%. Using an ultrasonic atomizer, covered with a funnel, enhanced the yield by about 8.5%. The performance of the tested solar stills was compared to similar solar stills operated in other locations and the results assure the strong influence of Aswan climatic conditions on enhancing the performance and yield of solar still. Such climate is promising for solar water desalination and other sustainable energy applications.

Keywords

• Physical chemistry aspects of chemical technology
• Photothermal conversion
• Other energy utilisation
• Other direct energy conversion