Enhancing the solar still performance using solar photovoltaic, flat plate collector and hot air

This work aims to enhance the productivity of a single slope solar still for remote communities facing electricity problems and a shortage of good quality water. The single slope solar still was equipped with a flat plate solar collector, spraying unit, perforated tubes, external condenser and solar air collector. The developed solar still (DSS) was evaluated in passive and active modes and compared with the conventional solar still (CSS). The circulated water was either sprayed into the DSS or pumped from the bottom upward forming fountains. A hot dry air was forced at the bottom of the DSS which constituted air bubbles to burst at the water surface. The DSS was powered by photovoltaic (PV) system and evaluated at different operating modes. The CSS productivity ranged from 3 to 41/m(2). The DSS productivity was more than the CSS by 51-148% depending on the type of amendment. The use of external condenser with solar still increased the productivity by 51%. The use of circulated hot water in passive and active sprays without condenser led to increase the DSS productivity by 56% and 82%, respectively. The DSS has demonstrated its suitability for the desalination process when weather conditions are suitable and water demand is not too great. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.