Techno-economic analysis of mini solar distillation plants integrated with reservoir of garden fountain for hot and dry climate of Jodhpur (India)

•Fountain water is used as a productivity enhancer of solar distillation unit.•Mini solar distillation plant capable to produce 300 liters/day using fountain water.•Multiple wicks solar distillation plant for small community for a hot and dry climate.•Single slope multiple wicks solar stills integrated with garden fountain.•Cost of distillate output as low as USD 0.0061/L. Paper presents economic analysis of two small solar distillation plants coupled to fountain reservoir designed to meet drinking water requirement of 300 l/day for hot and dry climate of Jodhpur (India). Performance of proposed plants (1) FRP single slope solar still and (2) FRP multiple wick solar still is compared with conventional single slope solar still plant. To enhance product output of plants, it is proposed to utilize cooled water stored in reservoir to cool glass cover of solar stills. The result shows that still area (distillation area) required for proposed plants is 37.8% to 39.5% less in comparison to conventional single slope solar still plant (without flow). Cost of distilled water produced is Rs 0.40/l (US $0.0061/l) and Rs 0.41/l (US $0.0063/l) for proposed plant-1(FRP single slope solar still) and proposed plant-2 (FRP single slope multiple wick solar still) respectively, which is about 29.2% to 32.5% less than the conventional single slope solar distillation plant. To replenish loss of water due to evaporation over glass cover, average additional make-up water required in fountain reservoir is 738 l/day. The proposed plant is particularly suitable at a place were plenty of brackish (impure) water is available, may be near to river, lake, canal or pond. (1US$ = Rs65/-).