LAUSR

The effects of novel materials, viz. phase-change material and nanoparticles, and water flowing over a glass cover on the performance of a single-slope single-basin solar still for use in solar thermal applications are presented and discussed. The results obtained with and without PCM and nanoparticles are compared with those for a conventional solar still on summer days. Numerical simulations and experiments were carried out to provide solutions for the temperatures of the flowing water, glass cover, novel materials [i.e., fin with cotton wick (FWCW), fin with jute wick (FWJW), and PCM], and nanoparticle basin liner. The daily production rate of distillate from pure saline water by the solar still was enhanced by using a drip button due to the absorptive capability of FWCW of 70.02%, resulting in daily (24 h) distillate production of 9.429 kg m−2 day−1, while the effect of water flowing over the glass cover was 13.37%, being 25% higher than without PCM and nanoparticles, respectively. The enhanced performance of the solar still was investigated using Fourier analysis with harmonics from 6 to −6, revealing good agreement with the observations, validating the theoretical and experimental analysis of the system.