Performance investigation of single-slope solar stills with dripping arrangement and nano ZrO2 particles

In many parts of the world, fresh drinking water is in short supply. The solar still produced a daily output of only 3 L, but it was used in providing a sustainable supply of clean drinking water. The climate of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India was tested from 8.30 a. m. to 5.30 p. m. on April 2023 using a modified solar still (MSS) for the experiment. The effectiveness of a MSS has been increased over that of a conventional solar still (CSS) by using as nanoparticle of ZrO2 and a dripping arrangement of water. The yields of MSS and CSS were determined experimentally to be 2.22 L per m2 and 3.39 L per m2, respectively. It was found that the CSS and MSS had thermal efficiencies of 25% and 35%, respectively. It has also been noticed that the MSS in its modified form has increased efficiency by 52.5%. Water costs 0.95 Rs per L under the CSS and 0.75 Rs per L under the MSS, as determined by their respective economic analyses. Solar still using nanomaterials and dripping arrangement improved output. It has also been noticed that the MSS in its modified form has increased efficiency by 52.5%.