Abstract
A multieffect solar still is simulated by formulating the rate equations and the heat and mass balance equations with respect to the process variables. The results obtained by the simulation showed satisfactory agreement with the experimental data taken from laboratory test plant having five stages and 1 m2 frame area. Calculation with the model showed the effect of design and operation parameters such as solar intensity, heat transfer coefficient through the partition and feed rate of brine to each stage on the distillate productivity.
The results showed that the distillate productivity is independent of overall heat transfer coefficient through the partition if its value becomes higher than 230 W/m2⋅K. Correlation to obtain the feed rate at each stage required to maximize the productivity of distillate was obtained as a function of the solar intensity and ratio of brine feed between two successive stages.
