Experimental and water quality analysis of solar stills with vertical and inclined fins

Abstract

The main aim of the present work is to see the effect of vertical and inclined fins on the yield of solar still. Three same size solar stills have been used to carry out research work in climate conditions of Gandhinagar, Gujarat. First one was Conventional solar still (CSS), and the remaining two contains vertical and inclined fins (30-degree inclination) used for six-month experimentations from July 2019 to December 2019. Surjyot pond water has been used as raw water in the solar still and water analysis also carried out before and after distillation. Waste wind chime pipes of 2 cm length used as fins in present experimentation. From the experimental results, it has been found that the yield of solar still with fins (vertical and inclined both) remains higher as compared with the CSS due to increment in temperature. From the six months of research, it is concluded that the average yield obtained 2.375, 2.322 and 1.873 L from solar still with inclined and vertical fins and CSS. The obtained water from the solar still has also found potable water due to the testing carried out in laboratory. It is also concluded that the increment in yield of 26.77% and 24.19% obtained by inclined and vertical fins as compared with CSS. At last, it has been found that there is no significant difference in yield from solar still with inclined and vertical fins.