Abstract
The vertical multiple-effect diffusion-type solar still, which consists of a number of vertical parallel partitions in contact with saline-soaked wicks with narrow gaps between partitions, coupled with a heat-pipe solar collector has a great potential because of its high productivity and simplicity. We performed the indoor experiments of a heat-pipe solar collector, which can be applied for this type of still, to determine the actual boiling behavior in the evaporating tubes attached to the solar collector plate, and found that the temperature difference between the solar collector plate of the solar panel and the first partition plate attached to the condensing path was about 5 to 8 K. The results were in good agreement with the numerical simulation of the proposed still, and indicate that the heat-pipe solar collector can transport thermal energy well from the solar collector panel to the multiple-effect still. Further, it was found that small amount of working fluid in the evaporating tubes causes the dry patches on the inner surface of the evaporating tubes, which causes serious damage to the heat-pipe solar collector plate.
