Experimental investigations on the effect of inverted cone condenser plate material and tilt angle on the solar still production under Malaysia conditions

Abstract

Due to population growth, the demand for fresh water continues to increase in both developed and under developed countries. One way of meeting this demand is through desalination of sea water. A simple solar still that makes use of solar energy which is renewable and clean is the most widely used solar desalination system to supply potable water. The still’s design parameters such as the cover angle and material can influence productivity. This paper aims to investigate the effect of the inverted cone condenser plate material and tilt angle on the solar still production under Malaysian conditions. Results showed that the still with Polyvinylchloride condenser plate will produce a higher amount of condensation as compared to Polypropylene and the steepest tilt angle (30o) bore the highest yield of fresh water.