Contents

• Abstract ……………………………………………………1

• Introduction………………………………………………...2

• Literature survey…………………………………………..3

• Working of Solar Distillation……………………………..4

• Results Analysis and Discussion………………………….6

• Advantages and disadvantages…………………………...7

• Applications………………………………………………..8

• Conclusions………………………………………………...9

• References ……………………………………………………………………
….10
Abstract

“Solar distillation” is a technology for producing potable water from brackish and
underground water of low-quality at low cost. It can reduce water-scarcity problems together
with other water purification technologies. Solar distillation is analogous to natural
hydrological cycle. It uses an apparatus called a solar still in which water is evaporated using
solar energy, a form of renewable energy, and collected as distillate after condensation of the
vapor. It effectively produces distilled water after removal of impurities. The major
advantage of this is the use of solar energy instead of electrical energy generated from
conventional fuels. This helps in producing potable water without degrading our
environment. Over time, researchers have studied several designs of solar stills to evaluate
its performance for different climatic, operational, and design parameters. In this chapter,
many aspects of this technology are being covered. Among those, the working principle
explains the production of distilled water through evaporation and condensation process
inside the solar still, including its advantages and drawbacks. The evolution of the solar still
is discussed under the historical background section and classified as passive or active solar
stills. Various heat gains and losses and a methodology to develop a thermal model to
predict the solar still performance are presented. Thereafter, the effects of various
parameters, economic, energy analysis including carbon credit, and technology transfer with
challenges in adoption are given. In conclusion, the probable extensive use of this
techno0logy to solve water problems on a large scale all over the world is presented.
Introduction

Solar distillation is the use of Solar energy to evaporate water and collect it's
condensation within the same closed system. Unlike the forms of water purification it can turn
salt or brackish water into fresh drinking water.There is a great need to find ways to supply
water for the Earth’s population. Many countries are facing water shortages and/or have
residents who use and drink contaminated water. Finding different ways to use our renewable
resources (for example, solar power) has become an interest. Solar water distillation is the
process of using energy from the sunlight to separate freshwater from salts or other
contaminants. The untreated water absorbs heat, slowly reaching high temperatures. The heat
causes the water to evaporate, cool, and condense into vapour, leaving the contaminants
behind. Solar stills can be used for low capacity and self-reliant water supplying systems.
Literature Survey

Sl no Author / Year of Description

publication
Tittle
1) Ahmadi 2020 Integrated planning
for frame work for
Esmaeli
sustainable water and
energy supply.

2) JH lienhard 2016 Workshop on low

carbon distillation for
GP Thiel
research,
development &
demonstration needs.

3) Delyannies E 2003 Historic baground of

distillation &
renewable energies.

4) Palmero Marrero 2002 Comparison of solar

thermal technologies
Gemez-camacho
for application in sea
water Distillation.
HOW IT WORKS

Solar water distillers or solar stills are usually used in remote areas where there is
limited access to freshwater. The basic principles of solar water distillation are simple, yet
effective, as distillation replicates the way nature makes rain. A solar still works on two
scientific principles: evaporation and condensation. The salts and minerals do not
evaporate with the water. For example, table salt does not turn into vapour until it gets to a
temperature over 1400ºC. However, it still does take a certain amount of energy for water
to turn into water vapour. While a certain amount of energy is needed to raise the
temperature of a kilogram of water from 0ºC to 100ºC, it takes five and one-half times that
much to change it from water at 100ºC to water vapour at 100ºC. Practically all this
energy, however, is given back when the water vapour condenses.

Most stills are simple black bottomed vessels filled with water and topped with clear glass
or plastic. Sunlight that is absorbed by the black material speeds the rate of evaporation.
The evaporation is then trapped by the clear topping and funneled away. Most pollutants
do not evaporate, so they are left behind. Most stills need to be about six square meters in
size to produce enough water for a single person for a day.  Multiple solar distillation
systems are required to produce a large quantity of distilled water.
Distillation of Water for Mobile Applications
Working principle of Solar Still
• Solar water distillation is the process of using energy from the sunlight to separate
freshwater from salts or other contaminants.

• The untreated water absorbs heat, slowly reaching high temperatures.

• The heat causes the water to evaporate, cool, and condense into vapour, leaving the
contaminants behind.

• The fresh water form the condensation collected by the pipe connections.
Results Analysis and Discussion

The seven different designs and operational parameters studied to investigate their
influence on still productivity The average daily output of the still is 2900 mL/m2/day for
the double-basin glass solar still. The evaporation of water in the upper basin is caused
mainly by condensation that takes place at the glass cover of the lower basin. As a result,
the upper basin continues to produce an appreciable amount of distillate during the night.
This demonstrates that the performance of the double-basin solar still is much better than a
single-slope solar still. The basin temperature reached to a maximum within a short
intervals of time due to the point focusing of the concentrator. At the same time,
corresponding glass temperature is also increased.

The distillate output of the pyramid solar still is 3300 mL/m2/day and that from the
top cover cooling effect of hemispherical solar still is 3659 mL/m2/day. This is because the
surface area of the hemispherical solar still is greater than the pyramid solar still. Hence,
the hemispherical top cover is contacted with air in high rate. This increases the
condensate of more droplets in the top cover. The yield rate is much improved for this
type of still when compared to single-slope conventional solar still. A shadow effect
creates a small amount of shadow to fall over the water surface during in the morning time
as well as in the evening time. This drawback is diminished by reducing the height of the
basin as well as hemispherical shape top cover.

This fruitful attempt has been made to analyze different types of stills with different
modes of operations. These results reveal that the tubular solar still coupled with pyramid
solar still produces higher yield rate. These analyses suggest that the method is consistent
to produce a low cost distillation unit for acquiring high pure distilled water. At a time
when attention is firmly focused worldwide on control and prevention of pollution,
efficient use of energy, and more reliance on renewable energy source, these different
types of desalination systems are warmly welcome to fight against environmental
pollution, and they are packed with energy saving and environmental friendly features.
Advantages:

• It is a relatively cheap and low-maintenance system.

• It can be used at the household level and scaled up through programmatic approaches.

• There are climate change adaptation and mitigation benefits.

• There are no energy costs.

• There are no moving parts.

Disadvantages:

• Rate of distillation is usually very slow (6 litres of water per sunny day).

• It is not suitable for larger consumptive needs.

• The materials required for the distiller may be difficult to obtain in some areas.

• If not correctly disposed of, the distillation process waste stream can be a potential
source of environmental pollution (high concentrations of salts and pollutants).

• Solar energy is only available during the day.

Applications
• Solar distillation are used in cases of where rain water or well water purification for
remote Homes.

• Solar distillation can provide an alternative source of clean water for different
applications.

• Approximately 70% of the water used worldwide is utilized in agricultural

applications such as,

Irrigation Irrigation to enable greater yield and quality of crops

 Consumption purpose for Animals

Conclusion

Solar distillation systems are suitable for remote, arid, or semiarid regions for small
capacities. Simple designs are preferred because they are cost-effective and easier to operate
and maintain. Solar distillation is a definite solution to the global water crisis. Research is
being conducted to increase the efficiency of the cascade-design and basin type solar stills.
References

1) S. Kalogirou, “Use of parabolic trough solar energy collectors for sea-water

desalination,” Applied Energy, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 65–88, 1998.

2) I. Al-Hayeka and O. O. Badran, “The effect of using different designs of solar stills on
water distillation,” Desalination, vol. 169, no. 2, pp. 121–127, 2004.

3) H. E. S. Fath, “High performance of a simple design, two effects, solar distillation

unit,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 38, no. 18, pp. 1895–1905, 1997.

4) A. M. Tayeb, “Performance study of some designs of solar stills,” Energy Conversion

and Management, vol. 33, no. 9, pp. 889–898, 1992.

5) A. J. N. Khalifa, A. S. Al-Jubouri, and M. K. Abed, “Experimental study on modified

simple solar stills,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 40, no. 17, pp.
1835–1847, 1999.

6) M. Abu-Arabi and Y. Zurigat, “Year-round comparative study of three types of solar

desalination units,” Desalination, vol. 172, no. 2, pp. 137–143, 2005.

7) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_desalination
8) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_still

9) https://www.safewater.org/fact-sheets-1/2016/12/8/solar-water-distillation

10) https://www.appropedia.org/Solar_distillation