Productivity improvement of single basin inclined solar still using enamel coating and copper chips

In the present study an attempt has been made to solve the problem of limited productivity of the conventional single slope horizontal basin solar still by improving its rate of evaporation. The conventional solar still is modified as a single slope inclined basin solar still with improved absorber surface. The absorber surface of the modified solar still is coated with black enamel paint and covered with copper chips. This resulted in augmented evaporation rate and in turn productivity of the system. The modified solar still having same footprint area as that of the conventional horizontal basin single slope solar still is fabricated and tested at Nagpur [21.14° N, 79.08° E] India. The effect of variation of feed water temperature (28°C-60°C) on the productivity of the solar still is also analysed. Theoretical modelling of both modified and conventional still is carried out and the results are compared. Experimentally the modified solar still is proved to be 9.5% more productive as compared with the conventional still. The details of modified solar still, experimental studies and the outcomes are discussed in the article.