Enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solar stills through natural fiber integration

Abstract

Various enhancements to solar stills aim to increase their output of fresh water. This research experimentally compared the efficiency of two solar stills (SS) in terms of producing fresh water. The conventional solar still (CSS) was compared to the Coconut leaf sheath single slope solar still. Natural fibres were used to fill the basin, increasing the surface area in contact with the sun and, by extension, the rate of evaporation. Utilize its capillary effect while simultaneously putting it to use as a heat sink (thermal storage material). We calculated the exergy and thermal energy efficiency of both systems and the associated costs. Daily accumulative freshwater productivity was found to be 5170.8 gm/m2 when employing natural fibre, a 45.8 % improvement over the usual method. Solar stills made from natural fibres were discovered to have daily thermal energy efficiencies of 46.8 % and exergy efficiencies of 5 %, while CSS systems achieved 33.8 and 3.2 %, respectively. When compared to a standard solar still, which costs ₹9.68 every litre of water produced, a solar still made with natural fibre reduces that cost to just ₹6.64 per litre.