Design of Low Density Polyethylene Hemispherical with Wick Solar Still for Arid Regions

抄録

Deficiency of potable and irrigation quality water severely affects quality of life in arid and desert areas. This precarious situation can be at least partially mitigated by extensive use of solar desalination technology, which is technically well matured. Development of solar desalination relied on increasing efficiency, which needs to be shifted to appropriate design of the system. In this paper a novel design of low cost maintenance free hemispherical solar still is proposed for desalination in remote areas with low literacy rate. In field condition, hemispherical solar still of area 0.65m² is evaluated. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) sheet of 400 micron thickness replaces expensive and difficult to maintain glass and acrylic top cover. A separate arrangement is included for analyzing the wick effect in still. Various parameters are recorded. Distillate yield was typically found to be 2.2 liters/m², much less than 3.5 liters/m² but robustness of design and the low cost makes it more appropriate for remote areas.