Performance of solar stills integrated with PV/Thermal solar collectors: A review

Abstract

All Earth's life forms depend heavily on water. Despite the critical importance of fresh water in the modern world, water pollution caused by industry and increasing urbanization has significantly reduced the amount of pure water available on Earth. Changes in global climate and seasons also contribute significantly to the depletion of fresh water resources. Population growth over the past few decades has increased the demand for safe drinking water. Multiple water-borne diseases can result from drinking contaminated water, and depending on the level of pollution, this could even be fatal.  There are several ways to purify polluted water, but solar distillation is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly option because it mimics the hydrological processes seen in nature and can be powered by the sun alone. Solar stills provide drinkable water and don't call for any special expertise to operate or maintain.  An integrated PV/T solar still is a welcome solution for distant locations that already struggle with access to safe drinking water and dependable electricity. According to research, a passive solar still produced 2–5 kg/m2 of fresh water daily whereas an active solar still connected to a PV/T collector could produce 6–12 kg/m2 of fresh water daily. In this paper, we provide a complete investigation of the solar still coupling and PV module coupling levels at the moment.