Different parameters affecting the condensation rate on an active solar still—A review

Abstract

Passive solar stills are used for solar distillation. But the yield of passive still is very low, and often fails to meet the demand. Water is one of the fundamental sources for the survival of mankind on the globe. As world having just a little measure of water assets for utilization purpose, individuals living in undeveloped countries and urban zones are getting affected by consuming dirty water that prompts water-borne illness. Despite the fact that groundwater is accessible in little amount, it must be suitably treated before its utilization for domestic use. Salty water contains dissolved and undissolved substance, and henceforth, it is not advisable for family drinking purpose. To enhance the productivity of fresh water, several techniques were employed. Furthermore, increase in yield of fresh water depends on various environmental parameters and rate of condensation. In this article, a complete review of various methods employed to enhance the condensation rate on an active solar still has been presented. Solar still incorporated with the evacuated tube collectors (ETC) and thermo electric modules (TEM) increased the still effectiveness up to 68%. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38: 286–296, 2019.