Improving the productivity of a single-slope solar still using Fresnel lenses under Iraq climatic conditions
Mohammed Alktranee, Qudama Al-Yasiri, A.E. Kabeel
Abstract
ABSTRACT The present work highlights the importance of using the Fresnel lens technique to enhance the productivity of a conventional solar still (CSS). In this regard, the effect of using Fresnel lenses to improve the productivity of a CSS is investigated experimentally under the climate conditions of Basra city (30.5258°N latitude and 47.7738°E longitude), Iraq. The Fresnel lenses integrated conventional single-slop-basin type solar still (CSS FL ) adjustable to be rotated manually at different angles was examined, compared to the CSS which showed a remarkable enhancement of producing output. The study concerned the variation of daily solar radiation and temperature effect on the distillate output and the efficiency of both the conventional and modified solar stills at 1 and 2 cm saline water depths during July and September of the year 2019. The experimental results showed better performance during July where it has been found that the productivity of the CSS FL improved over the CSS by about 68.6% at 1 cm depth and about 59.3% at 2 cm depth. Moreover, the average daily thermal efficiency of the CSS and the CSS FL at 1 cm depth was 21% and 36%, respectively. Several conclusions and recommendations are presented for future work.