Performance Enhancement of Solar Still Unit Using v-Corrugated Basin, Internal Reflecting Mirror, Flat-Plate Solar Collector and Nanofluids

Abstract

The conventional solar still (CSS) unit faces challenges such as low productivity (Pd) and thermal efficiency (ηth) due to the limited temperature difference between the hot water and the cold interior glass cover surfaces (ΔTw-gi). This study addresses these issues by introducing enhancements in the CSS unit, incorporating a v-corrugated-type basin, internal reflecting mirror, flat-plate solar collector (FPSC) still, and FPSC nanofluids. A v-corrugated-type basin, internal reflecting mirror, FPSC still, and FPSC nanofluids elicited a significant improvement in the distillate productivity (Pd) up to approximately 22.39%, 41.72%, 70.10%, and 104.13% compared to the CSS unit. This increase in the Pd is attributed mainly to a notable raise in the ΔTw-gi, showing increments of around 34.33%, 52.32%, 77.37%, and 112.87% compared to the CSS unit. Moreover, a v-corrugated basin, internal reflecting mirror, FPSC still, and FPSC nanofluids substantially increased the average daily thermal efficiency (ηth), around 22.01%, 26.71%, 39.57%, and 56.21%, respectively. The results confirmed that integrating the v-corrugated basin, internal reflecting mirror, FPSC still, and FPSC nanofluids within a combined seawater distillation system can significantly enhance the performance of the CSS unit. These different combinations effectively raised the basin water temperature (Tw) and ΔTw-gi, consequently improving the overall performance of the solar still unit.