Experimental comparative analysis of solar system productivity and performance in water distillation: Solar stills vs. parabolic dish systems

This study aims to evaluate the practical suitability of two solar technologies, Solar Stills and Solar Parabolic Dishes, in meeting energy demands for various applications, including preparing distilled water and other applications. Through the analysis, solar still systems were found to be the preferred choice for distilled water production due to their ability to yield significant amounts of pure water through simple or advanced designs. Conversely, the results showed that solar parabolic dishes are more suitable for applications requiring higher temperatures, such as cooking, as they concentrate solar radiation into smaller focal points. This study presents essential information for efficient energy management in specific water treatment applications, assisting in the selection of appropriate solar technologies. The results showed that the Parabolic Dish Concentrator (PDC) achieved an impressive temperature of 96.5 °C. Nonetheless, even though these high temperatures were attained, the experiments did not lead to the production of distilled water. Based on the results, the thermal efficiency of the solar still was calculated at 5.6 % without modification and 9.4 % with the implemented modification. Conversely, the solar still's productivity witnessed a notable increase of around 66.6 % with a straightforward modification involving the incorporation of operational fans. Additionally, there was a substantial enhancement in efficiency, registering a remarkable rise of 67.8 %. •Solar still and solar parabolic dish concentrator units are successfully examined.•Thermal and yield efficiencies of the solar systems are compared.•Recycled mirrors were utilized to fabricate parabolic dish concentrator.•The choice of solar systems is linked to productivity, efficiency, and adaptability.