Solar Distillation using Energy Augmentation from the Roof

Out of 100 % of water in the earth, less than 1% is the fresh water which can be used as drinking water. Limited source of fresh water is the major factor leading to water scarcity problem around the world. Seawater or brackish water is used as the alternative source of fresh water through desalination process but the current technology of desalination is expensive. Water desalination using solar still enables every house to produce its own drinking water by optimizing solar energy to distill seawater or brackish water without chemicals and electrical energy. Steel tubes system and basic basin solar still systems wereexamined in this study for augmentation of solar energy from the roof under local condition. The solar still was operated under two modes of operation; basic solar still alone and basic solar still connected to steel tubes system. Measurement of temperatures, solar intensities and distillate produce were taken in the month of November and December under monsoon season. The measurement was taken from 8am to 6pm. It was found that the production rate obtained is varied from 1.88 kg/m2/d to 2.26 kg/m2/d. The production of solar still connected to steel tube system was expected to be higher. However, the connection was yet to be perfected.