Experimental Evaluation of an Inclined Solar Water Distillation System for Sustainable Dual Output in Rural Environments
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 14, No 2 (June 2025) pp. 19-28
Abstract
In the quest for sustainable and decentralized water purification system, the present study introduces a novel Inclined Solar Water Distillation System (ISWDS) designed for enhanced freshwater yield and dual thermal utility. The system integrates cost-effective wick materials and flow control techniques to optimize performance. The ISWDS not only produces potable water but simultaneously delivers hot water suitable for domestic applications, thereby maximizing the utility of available solar energy. Experimental trials with black cloth and black fleece wicks reveal that fleece-based configurations yielded over three times more freshwater than the bare plate system. The unique inclination design of the system facilitates uniform water film formation, effective solar absorption, and natural drainage, eliminating the need for mechanical pumps. Temperature distribution and mass flow rate were systematically analyzed, confirming their critical role in enhancing evaporation and water quality. With Total dissolved solids reduced by up to 96%, the ISWDS emerges as an energy-independent, climate-resilient, and modular solution ideal for off-grid and rural communities. This study positions ISWDS as a forward-thinking alternative to conventional solar stills and energy-intensive RO systems, bridging innovation with sustainability in water purification.
Full Text
Reference
Elsheikh, K. A. Hammoodi, Ibrahim, A., Mourad A.-H.I., Fujii, M. and Abd-Elaziem, W., Augmentation and evaluation of solar still performance: a comprehensive review, Desal., (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2023.117239
Gnanaraj, S., Joe, P. and V. Velmurugan. "Experimental investigation on the performance of modified single basin double slope solar stills, Int. J. Ambient Energy, 43, 1, 206-215, (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.2019.1636861
Gnanaraj, S., Joe, P., Ramachandran S. and David, S. C., Enhancing the design to optimize the performance of double basin solar still, Desalination, 411, 112-123, (2017).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.02.011
Hemmatian, Kargarsharifabad, H, Abedini Esfahlani, A., Rahbar, N. and Shoeibi, S., Improving solar still performance with heat pipe/pulsating heat pipe evacuated tube solar collectors and PCM: an experimental and environmental analysis, J. Sol. Energy, 269 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112371
Hussein, A. K., El Hadi Attia, M., Abdul-Ammer, H. J., Arıcı M., Ben Hamida, M. B., Younis, O., Homod, R. Z. and Abidi, A., Experimental study of the impact of low-cost energy storage materials on the performance of solar distillers at different water depths, Solar Energy, 257, 221–230, (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.04.013
Hussein, A. K., Rashid, F. L., Rasul M. K., Basem A., Younis O, Homod R. Z., El Hadi Attia M., Al-Obaidi M. A., Ben Hamida M. B., Ali B. and Abdulameer S. F., A review of the application of hybrid nanofluids in solar still energy systems and guidelines for future prospects, Solar Energy, 272 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112485
Kargarsharifabad, H., Shafii, M, B., Rahni, M. T. and Abbaspour, M., Exergy analysis of a flat plate solar collector in combination with heat pipe, Int. J. Environ. Res., 8, 39–48, (2014).
https://doi.org/10.22059/ijer.2014.692
Khalili, H. Kargarsharifabad, N. Rahbar, A. Abedini Esfahlani and E. Jamshidi., Performance evaluation of a CGS gas heater-powered HDH desalination system using thermosyphon heat pipes: an experimental study with economic and environmental assessment, International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 152 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2024.107300
Omidi, N. Rahbar, H. Kargarsharifabad, Z. Poolaei Moziraji., Performance evaluation of a solar desalination-hot water system using heat pipe vacuum tube parabolic trough solar collector – an experimental study with Taguchi analysis, Energy Conversion and Management, 292 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117347
Reyes, Gatica, E., Henríquez-Vargas L , Pailahueque, N. and Vargas, A. Experimental and numerical study of desalination using solar energy and phase change materials, J. Environ. Chem. Eng., 11 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2023.111193
Sampathkumar, Suraparaju, S. K. and Natarajan S. K. Enhancement of yield in single slope solar still by composite heat storage material—experimental and thermo-economic assessment, J. Sol. Energy Eng., 145 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4055100
Singh, D. B. and Tiwari G. N., Energy, exergy and cost analyses of N identical evacuated tubular collectors integrated basin type solar stills: a comparative study, Solar Energy, 155, 829–846, (2017).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.07.018
Somwanshi and Shrivastava, R., Thermal analysis of a closed-loop inclined wick solar still (CLIWSS) with an additional heat storage water reservoir, Solar Energy, 262 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.111902
Ziapour B. M., Afzal, S., Mahdian, J., Reza Miroliaei, A., Enhancing solar still performance through innovative modeling, integration with reflectors, and semi-transparent solar cells: a 3E analysis and multi-objective optimization, Applied Thermal Engineering, 242 (2024).
