Performance Evaluation of Regular Hexagonal Pyramid Three-Dimensional Solar Desalination System: An Experimental Investigation

In this study, a solar desalination unit with a regular hexagonal pyramid geometry was designed, constructed, and investigated. The unit was built as a hexagonal pool made of 2 mm thick iron, with an absorption surface of 1 square meter, and covered with 4 mm thick glass. It was tested under the weather conditions in Ahvaz City, southwest Iran. In its baseline and inactive state, without any performance-enhancing measures, the solar desalination unit could produce more than 3 liters of freshwater per square meter of the absorption surface daily under summer weather conditions. The changes in the production rate relative to the intensity of solar radiation and the temperature of the saltwater pool were examined. The solar desalination unit produced more freshwater during midday and afternoon hours, when the air temperature was higher. The thermal efficiency of the device was 27.1%, comparable to similar studies. Also, the effect of wind speed and relative humidity of the ambient air on fresh water production was investigated.