AUGMENTATION OF EVAPORATION RATE USING GLASS BASIN STEPPED SOLAR STILL

This project mainly focuses on maximising the production of distillled water by emphasizing three important factors: decrease in depth of water, increase in exposure area and temperature of the saline water. In this work, to augment the evaporation and temperature of the still basin water, the basin is made by glass material because of its good absorption. The stepped type basin is composed of four trays. Each tray is detached into top and bottom trays. The depending water enters the top trays (evaporating zone) where evaporation takes place depending on depth provided by the glass strip. The overflow water driven to the bottom tray (heating zone) through the gap provided in the separation glass will be further heated and made to flow through the subsequent trays. Modifications such as sponges to increase the exposure area, sensible heat materials like sand, and metal scraps to increase the saline water temperature, glass cubes with dry salt, camphor, aluminum scraps and charcoal to increase both saline water temperature and exposure area showed subtle improvement in the production rate. Experimental results were compared with ordinary basin type still. Theoretical evaluation was also done and is closer to the experimental values.