Performance of rotating solar still with rotating external reflectors

Abstract

In this research, a rotating solar still that uses external bottom reflectors was experimentally investigated. The solar still and reflectors have the capability to shift their angle with respect to the south and the reflectors have the capability to shift their angle with respect to the horizon. The experiment has been performed in both fixed and rotating states. For the fixed state the solar still was placed toward south and the reflectors were set in such a way to reflect sun rays on the bottom surface of the basin at solar noon. For rotating state, the solar still and reflectors were set manually every half an hour in such a way to reflect sun rays on the bottom surface of the basin and the system was directed toward the sun all the time. The experiments were performed from November to December for 27 days. Sunny days results indicated that on average, distilled water gained using rotating mode was about 64% more than the fixed mode. Both the rotating and fixed mode yield for two cloudy days with respect to the average yield of sunny days decreased by 47 and 53%, respectively.