Experimental Investigation of Horizontal Solar Stills Using Central Container and Transparent Material as Alternative to Glass Cover

Abstract

The increasing popularity of solar energy has spurred research aimed at enhancing the efficiency of various solar system designs. This study focuses on modifying traditional solar still systems and proposing innovative alternatives. Traditional solar stills become less practical to manufacture as their size increases because the glass cover must be held at an approximately 30 degrees angle to ensure smooth flow of distilled water, requiring a higher elevation design on the high side of the still. To address this challenge, a wider horizontal system was developed using a specialized transparent plastic material, which reduces the brittleness risk commonly associated with glass. To further enhance efficiency, the system incorporates a surface-enhancing absorber, hemp rope in the basin, and a water-spraying mechanism on the cover. Based on the experimental results, the highest amount of distilled water collected was 79.064 g in Experiment 5. In terms of efficiency, the total thermal efficiency across all experiments was calculated, with the maximum efficiency of 4.92% obtained in Experiment 6. Additionally, the highest instantaneous efficiency (approximately 10.59%) was also achieved in Experiment 6, where hemp ropes and a spray application were used.