Enhanced Distillate Yield of Acrylic Pyramid Top
Cover Solar Still With and Without Tar Coated Blue
Metal
l 3
B.Selvakumar
1 Department of Physics, Jansons Institute of Technology,
Karumathampatti, Coimbatore - 641659, Tamilnadu.
2 4
B.Kalidasan
2 Department of Physics, Chennai Institute of Technology,
Nandambakkam, Chennai - 600 009., Tamilnadu.
Abstract -An innovative work had been carried to increase the
distillate yield of the solar still by replacing the single slope cover
by means of parabolic cover. Advantage of pyramid top cover is
that the amount of solar radiation entering the system in more
when compared to other types of top cover. The top pyramid cover
is made up of transparent acrylic sheet of 3 mm thickness of
transmittance 88% . Pyramid top cover of diameter 0.75 m and
height 0.30 m is designed for the still. It is designed by joining the
two portions of the acrylic sheet.
An experimental study with acrylic cover of 4° slope
ensures a very good transmission of solar radiation inside the still.
2 life
Pyramid solar still of area 0.5625 m is constructed using a single
piece of mild steel. The variation of distilled water collection is in
the range of 0.01 kg to 0.047 kg for the pyramid still performance
study. Observed efficiency for the pyramid still performance study
with and without tar coated blue metal absorber is in the range of
7.65% to 24.63% and 9.87% to 38.89%. Similarly, performance
ratio for the pyramid still performance study with and without tar
coated blue metal absorber is in the range of 2.09 % to 7.61 % and
2.28% to 9.81% respectively. The maximum rise in water, air,
ambient and top cover temperatures observed during the study
shows that there is slight increase in the water and air temperature
for pyramid still with tar coated blue metal absorber.
Nusselt number (Nu), Grashof number (Gr), Prandtl
number (pr) and heat transfer modes are also analysed.
Thermophysical properties of the water such as dynamic viscosity,
density, thermal conductivity, latent heat of evaporation and
saturated vapour pressure were also estimated.
978-1-4673-0178-7/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE
S.Kalaivani
3 Department of Physics, Avinishilingam University for
Women, Coimbatore - 641043, Tamilnadu.
S. Rugmini Radhakrishnan
4 Department of Physics, Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Science for Women, Tiruchengode, Nammakkal - 637205,
Tamilnadu.
I. INTRODUCTION
Water is a nature's gift and it plays a key role in the
development of an economy and in turn for the welfare of a
nation. Non-availability of drinking water is one of the major
problem faced by both the under developed and developing
countries all over the world. Around 97% of the water in the
world is in the ocean, approximately 2% of the water in the
world is at present stored as ice in polar region, and 1% is fresh
water available for the need of the plants, animals and human
[1]. Today, majority of the health issues are owing to the
non-availability of clean drinking water. In the recent decades,
most parts of the world receive insufficient rainfall resulting in
increase in the water salinity. The pollution of water resources
is increasing drastically due to a number of factors including
growth in the population, industrialization, urbanization, etc.
These activities adversely affected the water quality in rural
areas and agriculture. Globally, 200 million hours are spent
each day, mostly by females, to collect water from distant, often
polluted sources. In the world, 3.575 million people die each
year from water related diseases. The basic medical facilities
never spotted numerous villages in the developing and under
developed countries. Majority of the rural people are still
unaware of the consequences of drinking untreated water.
Solar energy is available in abundant in most of the
rural areas and hence solar distillation is the best solution for
rural areas and has many advantages of using freely available
29 6
solar energy. It is a simple technology and more economical
than the other available methods. A solar still operates similar
to the natural hydrologic cycle of evaporation
condensation. The basin of the solar still is filled with impure
water and the sun rays are passed through the glass cover to
heat the water in the basin and the water gets evaporated. As the
water inside the solar still evaporates, it leaves all contaminates
and microbes in the basin. The purified water vapour condenses
on the inner side of the glass, runs through the lower side of the
still and then gets collected in a closed container [2]. Many
solar distillation systems were developed over the years using
the above principle for water purification in many parts of the
world.
Sanjeev Kumar and Tiwari [3]
temperature of water and thermal efficiency decreased with an
increase in basin area due to the large storage capacity of the
water mass in the basin and depth of water, respectively. Yield
increased with increase in the number of
expected, owing to increased heat transfer from the collector
panel into the basin and the optimum number of collectors for
maximum yield is 8 m2 since beyond that the increase in gain
will be lower than the thermal loss. Sanjeev Kumar et al. [4]
suggested that, for maximum annual yield,
collector inclination for a flat plate collector is 208 and that of
still glass cover is 158 for New Delhi climatic condition.
Tiwari et al. [5] inferred that, the internal heat transfer
coefficients should be determined by using inner glass cover
temperature for thermal modelling of passive and active solar
stills. The heat transfer coefficients mainly depends on the
shape of the condensing cover, material of the condensing cover
and temperature difference between water and inner glass
cover. On the basis of the numerical computation, Singh and
Tiwari [6] found that, the annual yield is at its maximum when
the condensing glass cover inclination is equal to the latitude of
the place and the optimum collector inclination for a flat plate
collector is 28.588, for a condensing glass cover inclination of
18.588 for New Delhi climatic condition. Rajesh Tripathi and
Tiwari [7] inferred that the convective heat transfer coefficient
between water and inner condensing cover
significantly on the water depth of the basin. It is also observed
that more productivity was obtained during the off shine hours
as compared to day time for higher water depths in solar still
(0.10 mand 0.15 m) due to storage effect.
Vimal Dimri et al. [8] conducted theoretical and
experimental analysis of a solar still integrated with flat plate
collector with various condensing cover materials. The results
indicated that yield is directly related to thermal conductivity of
condensing cover materials; copper gives a greater yield
compared to glass and plastic due to higher
conductivity. Yadav [9] studied the performance of a solar still
coupled with a flat plate collector using thermosyphon mode
and and forced circulation mode for New Delhi climatic condition.
The author found that, the system using the forced circulation
mode gives 5-10% higher yield than that of the thermosyphon
mode and 30-35% enhancement in the yield was observed with
simple solar still. The steady state condition of the system was
achieved after 2-3 days. Yadav [10] studied the transient
performance of a high temperature solar distillation system. The
study reveals that it is worthwhile to consider a temperature
dependent evaporative heat transfer coefficient when evaluating
the performance of a high temperature distillation. Tiris et al.
[11] conducted experiments on two flat plate solar collectors
integrated with a basin type solar still. From their study, the
observed that,
collector integrated solar still gave an average increase of 100%
in yield in comparison with the simple basin solar still.
2
Maximum yield was 2.575 Vm day for the simple basin and
2
5.18 11m day for the integrated system, while the corresponding
collectors, as 2
solar radiation is 24.343 MJ/m day.
Ali A Badran et al. [12] performed the tests in solar
still augmented with flat plate collector using tap water and
saline water. They found that the mass of distilled water
the optimum production using augmentation increased by 231 % in case of
tap water as a feed and by 52% in case of salt water as a feed.
Badran and Al-Tahainesh [13] presented the effect of coupling
a flat plate collector on the solar still productivity. The results
showed that, the output of the still is maximum for the least
water depth in the basin (2 cm). Also, the increase in water
depth has decreased the productivity, while the still productivity
is found to be proportional to the solar radiation intensity.
II. CONSTRUCTION OF PYRAMID SOLAR STILL
A. General Setup of the Still
Pyramid solar still of area 0.75m x 0.75m is designed.
The still is filled with the water to a height ofO.05m. Top of the
system is covered by a 3 mm transparent acrylic pyramid cover
depends with a height of 0.30m at the middle. It is air tightened using
the cushion supports at the interface between the top cover and
the sides of sliding support for uniform landing. Bottom of the
still is insulated using sawdust, while the side is insulated with
glass wool. The specification of different parts of the still is
given below and also cross sectional view of pyramid solar still
is shown Fig. 1.
thermal
297
 B. Water Storage Basin acrylic pyramid cover lands uniformly and the distilled water

The water storage basin of the still is constructed with are collected freely in the water collection segment. Finally this

dimension 0.75m x 0.75m x 0.15m of mild steel. Bottom and top cover is bolted air tightly using the cushion supports at the

sides of the basin are painted with black paint for good interface between the top cover and the sides of sliding support

absorption of solar radiation. 14 inch pipe is used for pouring for uniform landing.

water into the still and it is fixed at the height of 0.125 m on the
side of the still. Another 14 inch pipe is placed at a height of F. Outer Box
0.1250 m adjacent to the inlet pipe for the inlet of
The outer box of the still is made up of wood of
thermocouples into the still to measure the temperature inside
thickness 4mm with the dimension 0.85m x 0. 85m x 0.30m.
the still. Additionally two more pipes are placed at a height of
Bushes are placed at the base of the still for uniform landing in
0.0505 m and 0.l005 m respectively to maintain the water level
inside the storage basin as 0.05 m and 0.10 m respectively.
the ground. Suitable strips are made at the respective places in
the outer cover were the inlet, outlet pipes, distilled water
C. Water Collection Segment
collection pipes and waste water flow pipes points out. Handles
Water collection segment of this system is of are provided at the opposite sides of the outer box for easy
dimension 0.75 m x 0. 02 m x 0.015 m respectively. Distilled handling (movement) of the still.
water outlet provision from the water collecting segment is
made at diagonally opposite sides by joining two sides
collection together. Thus even though there is a water collection
segment on all sides of the still, water outlet pipes will be only
at the diagonally opposite sides.

The fine gap between the water storage basin and the
water collection segment is sealed using chemical adhesives, in
order to protect any water leakage between water collection
segment and water storage segment. The mild steel is bent in
the required "U' shape of dimension 0.75m x 0.02m x 0.015m
and is fixed at the inner side of front part of still at the height of
0. 14 m. Strips are provided just above the water collection
segment at a distance of 0.005 m from it for the uniform
landing of top cover and also to effectively collect the Fig. 1. Cross sectional view of pyramid solar still
condensed distilled water.
l. Top Cover 2. Water collection segment
3. Glass Wool Insulation 4. Water storage basin
D. Acrylic Pyramid Top Cover
5. Still outlet 6. Sawdust insulation
The top pyramid cover is made up of transparent
7. Still inlet 8. Wooden box
acrylic sheet of 3mm thickness of transmittance 88%. Pyramid
top cover of area 0.75 m x 0. 75 m is designed using the 3mm
transparent acrylic sheet. It is designed by joining the two
portions of the acrylic sheet. Two pieces of molded acrylic III. EXPERIMENTAL ARRANGEMENT
sheets are joined by using cyanoacrylate adhesive. The top
cover is placed over the strip provision provided at all sides for The basin type stepped solar still unit has been
uniform resting over the water collection segment. The distance designed and is installed with an orientation in the North South
between the tip of the pyramid to the centre of surface area is direction. The performance of the still has been studied for
0. 30m. number of days and its readings on clear sunshine days have
been recorded.

E. Fixing a/Top Cover
Small pieces of steel strips are welded at the height of
0.005m from the top surface on the inner side of the still basin.
Steel strips of dimension O.Olm x O.Olm are welded at various
parts around the inner wall of the still basin so that the top
298
The experimental study is started from 9am. The basin
is filled with water of 15 litre of saline water. The pre­
calibrated thermocouples are fixed at the appropriate places and
it is connected to the digital thermometer.
 A thermometer with an accuracy of 0.1 °C is fixed In the usual analyses of solar stills, the water surface
near the still to the air temperature (Ta), water temperature (Tw) and the glass cover are considered as infinite parallel planes.
inside the still. Also to measure the ambient temperature (Tamb), Using Stefan Bolzmann's constant, the heat transfer coefficient
is given by,
4 4
Qrw= cr E [(Tw + 273) - (Tg + 273) ] (3)
The ratio between the heat of evaporation to the total
Acrylic cover temperature (T g), total solar insolation (H) and
heat transferred from the water to the cover, depends upon Tw
the amount of distilled water collected at the outlet are
and Tg Computation of this ratio (S) is given by
-
recorded. A measuring jar is kept at the distilled water outlet
and the collection is recorded at the regular intervals. (4)

A. Heat Transfer Modes in a Solar Still C. External Heat Transfer Mode

Many researchers have conducted a great many The external heat transfer modes are convention and
experimental and theoretical studies about heat transfer modes radiation. Due to the small thickness of the glass cover, it is
inside the still. For the most normal range of operation for a assumed that the lamp of the cover is uniform. The external
conventional solar still, the most commonly used relationship to convention loss from glass to the outside atmosphere is,
evaluate heat and mass transfer coefficients and it is proposed
Qea=hea (Tg- Ta) (5)
by R.Y. Dunkle [14]. The study carried out by S. Adhikari, et.
here, hea is a function of wind velocity and is given by J.A.
al., [15] for verifying the applicability of Dunkle's relationships
Duffie and W,A. Beckman [16] as,
over a wide range of operating temperatures within a solar still
hea=5,7 + 3,8 Y (6)
reported that Dunkle's relationships behave well in the lower
The external radiation loss from the acrylic cover to
temperature ranges. So Dunkle's [14] relationship needs the
the atmosphere is given by,
modification in the higher ranges of temperatures. 4 4
Qra= Eg cr [(Tg + 273) - (Tsky + 273) )] (7)
In order to find the more universal correlations to Tsky = (Ta - 12) is the apparent sky temperature for long wave
express accurately the evaporation rate in solar stills, based on radiation. Eg for glass is =0,85
the analogy of heat and mass transfer and an empirical The value of conduction heat loss through the base Q b
correlation, a group of improved heat and mass transfer is given by
correlations is established in the paper. Q b=hb (Tw-Ta) (8)
and 11 hb=L / K

B. Internal Heat Transfer Modes

i) Convection
Heat is transported inside the still by free convection
of air. It releases its enthalpy upon air coming into contact with
the acrylic cover. The coefficient of heat transfer is usually
incorporated in the Nusselt Number. Heat transfer by free
convection, the Nusselt number is related to the Grashof and
Prandtl number.
The heat transfer per unit area per unit time due to
convection is,
IV. THEORETICAL EQUATION
It is very important to know accurately the heat and
mass transfer processes in basin type solar stills for improving
their performance. Many researchers have conducted a great
many experimental and theoretical studies about them. In 1961,
Dunkle [14] first proposed a group of complete heat and mass
transfer correlations based on a modified Grashof number to
express the operating processes of basin type solar stills. He
gave the evaporation rate correlation of the stills as follows:

[ 1
[ w- g)(Tw+ 273)
((P P )] 113 1
Qew=0.884 (Tw-T) (Tw-T) (1) =16273xl0 he - (PI!' -Pg) (9)
g +
me
g
268.9x103 �"_
hfg
-3

ii)Evaporation where
Dunkle connects convective and evaporation heat
transfer coefficients as.
Qew=16.273 X 10-3 hew. R, (Tw - Tg) (2)
iii) Radiation
299
 ((P P )l3' Grashof number (Gr), the Reynolds number (Re) and the

l J
)(T + 273)
h =0.884 (T - T )+
w
g w
Prandtl number (Pr); the expressions for these numbers are
g
268.9xl03 -P..,
c w

Nu = (hei L I k) (12)
Based on experimental results, they proposed their
where hei = C (Gr Pr)" k I L
heat and mass transfer empirical correlations in solar stills.
The values of constants C and n are determined by the
Adhikari's correlation [17] was one of the most famous
following conditions:
correlations, as follows:
C = 0.21, n = Y4 for 104 <Gr< 2.51 x 105
(10)
C = 0.1255, n =V3 for 2.51 x 105<Gr<107
where
n=1I4, 104<Gr<2.51x105 Gr = (Xi3 p? p g �T') I J.l? (13)

n=1I3, 2.51x105<Gr< 107 Pr = (CpJ.lI k) (14)

and where the value of a is a constant for a particular operating
temperature range of a solar still. If the range changes, a
VI. THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES
different value of a is required. Values of a for some of the
operating temperature ranges are given in Table 1.
Thermophysical properties are estimated usmg
experimentally measured temperatures of evaporation and
condensation surfaces. These values are given by S. Toyoma et
TABLE 1 aI., [19].

Values of a for some of the operating temperature ranges [17] k = 0.0244+(0.7673 x 10-4) Tay (15)
J.l = (l.718 x 10-5)+(4.620 x 10-8) Tay (16)
Temperature (C) ax lOy p = 353.44 I (273.35+Tay) (17)
Gr<2.51xlO) Gr > 2.51xlO) hy = 2324.6 [( l.0727 x 103)-(l.0 167Tay) +
40 8.1202 9.7798 (l.4087 X10-4) Ta}-(5.1462 x 10-6) Ta}] (18)
60 8.1518 9.6707 The arithmetic mean of the temperatures of
80 8.1895 9.4936 evaporation and condensation surface can be expressed as
follows:
Tay = (Tw+Tg) / 2 (19)
Similarly the values of saturation vapour pressure are
However, the theoretical results obtained from predicted under the expression, which is suggested by Brooker
different researchers' correlations have considerable difference et aI., [20].
because of the different experimental conditions. Some of them
P = 6893.03 exp (54.63 - 1230l.69/T' - 5.17 In T') (20)
even are contradictory to each other. A.T. Shawaqfeh and
where T' = (l.8T+49l.69)
M.M. Farid [18] reported that Dunkle's model might over
The Performance Ratio is calculated using the formula
predict evaporation rates about 30%.
PR = (me,i hy) I (Hs) (21)
A double slope step type tray solar still is constructed
and steady state simulating experiments are performed so as to
validate the correlation group. By comparing the theoretical
results with the experimental yield, it is found that this VII. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
correlation group is in better agreement with the measured
yield. The performance of the pyramid solar still is analysed
individually and also combined with tar coated blue metal
absorber. The following predictions are made for all the studies
and their performance is discussed in this chapter.
V. EFFICIENCY AND DIMENSIONLESS NUMBERS
The radiative heat transfer (Qri), convective heat
The efficiency of the still is calculated using the transfer (Qei) and evaporative heat transfer (Qei) under internal
formula heat transfer modes are predicted. Similarly external heat
transfer modes by conduction heat transfer (Qbe), external heat
11 = (M x L) I (Hs x A x t) (11)
transfer through radiation from the glass cover (Qre) and heat
The convective heat transfer is considered in terms of
transfer from acrylic cover to atmosphere by convection (Qee)
dimensionless parameters, viz. the Nusselt number (Nu), the
are also estimated and it is shown in Table 1. The instantaneous
300
efficiency, performance ratio, saturation vapour pressure, latent performance combined with tar coated blue metal absorber. As
heat and dimensionless parameters are also calculated for the a result water temperature rises during the initial sunshine hours
pyramid solar still and still combined with tar coated blue metal and it falls down when the radiation intensity falls down. The
absorber. The readings are recorded for number of clear sky maximum rise in water temperature is observed as 6 1 °C.
days and almost equal average radiation received during the Similarly the maximum air temperature of 63 °C is obtained.
three studies are considered for the analysis and reported. The variation of ambient temperature is in the range of33 °C to

Fig. 2 shows the variation of temperature for water, 37.5 °C during the study. The impact of the ambient

air, inner surface of the cover, outer surface of the cover and temperature over the still is more because the condensation at

ambient with respect to time in pyramid solar still performance the top cover is mainly based on it. Similarly the variation of

study. The maximum rise in water temperature is observed as top cover temperature is in the range of 33 °C to 45.5 0C.

55.5 0C. Similarly the maximum air temperature of 58.5 °C is Normally the rise in top cover temperature affects the

obtained. The variation of ambient temperature is in the range condensation of water vapour over the top cover, because the

of32 °C to 37°C during the study. The impact of the ambient top cover temperature rises to a maximum of 41°C. This rise in

temperature over the still is more because the condensation at top cover temperature is higher than the ambient temperature.

the top cover is mainly based on it. Similarly the variation of

top cover temperature is in the range of 32 °C to 44 °C. 10

65
Normally, the rise in top cover temperature affects the
60
condensation of water vapour over the top cover, because the
(J 55
top cover temperature rises to a maximum of 44°C. This rise in 11...-
a;. 50
top cover temperature is higher than the ambient temperature. B
� 45
The difference between top cover temperature and ambient � 40
=
temperature is only 7 0C. Hence distillate yield obtained from Iil 35
I-<
the still is not slowed down. 30
'\'��I(¥lu)
······ 0 · · · · · ·
" _GMH:u..(�+rU)
10
20

60 �-(.t) fq-ct'J 1/:00 I�.� ( .� �Oo �·Cb �.(t) �-'t) 6:-Cb �"f.t, �·Oo
Time (min)

Fig. 3 Variation of temperature with respect to time

for pyramid so lar still combined with tar coated blue
m�t.al

The difference between top cover temperature and

- "<>- . Jo.lll.\. •••••••••••• 'II�t91 _ Jo.il
ambient temperature is only 8 0C. So distillate yield obtained
_ Ct\<91h.. - _ 0- - Ct\<91Orrt
from the still is not slowed down. Water temperature of the still
10
and flat plate collector starts to increase individually during the
initial period (9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m.).
�.� I�. ""
II.. I;.."" (.� �.", �."" �."" J:'� �"" )."" �.�
",
Fig. 4 shows the variation of instantaneous efficiency
Time (min)
and performance ratio with respect to time for performance
Fig. 2 Variation of temperature with respect to time for
study of pyramid solar still and still combined with tar coated
pyramid so la r still study
blue metal absorber. The instantaneous efficiency is increased
The difference in the rate of yield for the regular intervals according to the time. The variation of the efficiency observed
measured between 2.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. is more than the rate during the study is in the range of7.52% to 24.73 % and 9.41%
of yield measured between from 9.3 0 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 3 8.89% for the pyramid still performance study and still
Finally the yield reduces at 8.00 p.m due to the decrease of performance combined with tar coated blue metal absorber. The
water temperature and evaporation rate. efficiency of the combined performance is found to be more
than individual performance because more amount of heat is
absorbed by tar coated blue metal in addition to the hea
absorbed by water medium. Hence as a result, the distillate
water collection rate is increased.
Fig. 3 shows the variation of temperature for water,
air, inner surface of the cover, outer surface of the cover and
ambient temperature with respect to time in pyramid solar still

3 01
 30 almost nearer to one another. So the yield rate difference in
Pl.(Pj)
40 regular interval is less compared to the warm up period. The
� 1!'(Pj+lu) - 'X" - P!.(P.,+lu)
production rate of distilled water after 2 p.m. is higher than that
35
� � of warming up period. So the still systems produce more
�. 20 30 0 condensation only at optimum temperature.
.:
ill

"�
'0
S
15 UOO OM
�'"
�
'"
" 20
o
(1) 0.06
o .-. 1000
.E 10 15 �
/. :E 0.05 �
�
Po.
o .¢o-o.. . _ � ......... / 10 � BOO
-::: ,:::::: .. ......... x § §
, _, ,*==-¥
.jo(:;;.,.... • •
- ,,�,�, x-x- . ��
0.04 13
.:
.. �
�
� .. ..
;§ 600 '"
� 0.03
=
8
&l
� 400 !.::
o 0.02
\;\\%��%������%�� '" �
Time (min) 200
l 0.01
I
�alI;o) �. a(Pj+hl)
Fig. 4 Varitaion of instantaneous eff ficiency and �'i.'t(lY) -oX·-tU.C(Pj+!u)
performance ratio with time for pyramid solar still
tUlder two modes of study
�oo �)
� ������
� � �. � ��o
":'0 ":",j>o �oo �.j>o�oo�)o �Qo �o �;,o
The performance ratio calculated is found increase
Time (min)
with respect to time and reaches a steady state after. The
Fig. 5 Variation of solar radiation and water collection
performance ratio observed during the study is in the range of
with respect to time for pyramid solar still tUlder two
2.11% to 7.25 % and 2.64% to 8.66% for the pyramid still modes of study
performance study and still combined with tar coated blue
metal absorber. The warming up period causes a change in the Water collection of the pyramid still in combined
performance ratio during rise in temperature. When it rises to performance is boosted due to the coupling of the flat plate
maximum, the performance ratio maintains a steady state. This collector with it. Instantaneous distilled water collection is more
effect is due to the rise in temperature completely utilized for during the sunshine hours due to the effect of tar coated blue
evaporation. metal absorber. After sunshine hours, the effect of tar coated

Fig. 5 shows the variation of solar radiation and water blue metal absorber reduces and the system acts as a simple still

collection with respect to time for pyramid solar still and still performance.

combined with tar coated blue metal absorber. Radiation Fig. 6 shows the variation of saturation vapour
increases linearly with time and reaches the maximum value pressure and latent heat inside the pyramid still for two modes
from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and then decreases. Radiation received of studies. Saturation vapour pressure starts to increase with
2
during this study is in the range of 96.62 W/m as minimum to respect to time and it reaches the peak value around 1:30 p.m.
2
1050.7 W/m as maximum for pyramid still performance study to 2:00 p.m.
2 2
and 96.62 W/m as minimum to 1074.85 W/m as maximum for
pyramid still combined with tar coated blue metal absorber. 16000 �430000
r.;- 14000 2420000
The variation of distilled water collection is in the e:.-
(1)
12000 2410000
range of 0.01 kg to 0.045 kg and 0.013 kg to 0.062 kg for the i=
III
(1) 2400000 t,
pyramid still performance study and still combined with tar '" 10000 0.
Po. 2390000 �

coated blue metal absorber. This instantaneous water collection 8000 iii
g"" 2380000 :t
is observed as maximum of 0.045 kg and 0.062 kg at 2.00 p.m. 6000
�
'"
>- 2370000
for both the studies and the minimum water collection of 0.01 :::
0 4000 2360000 .s
.:
kg and 0.013 kg at 9.30 a.m for both the studies. Water '" 2000 -·(>o-::VP(P.r+I�I)
2350000
collection is increased linearly during the initial hours even 3 - .x. - LH(PJ+I�I)
E 2340000
'"
though the instantaneous yield rate at regular interval is less 00

because the initial radiation is completely utilized for the warm

up temperature than the distillate yield. In later case the Time (min)

temperature is fully utilized for evaporation simultaneously the Fig. 6 Variation of saturation vapour pressure and
latent heat with respect to time for pyramid solar still
rise in temperature causes an increase in saturated vapour
tUlder two modes of study
pressure. So the collection yield during the period of interval is

302
 180000 '.5
Saturation vapour pressure reaches maximum value when water
160000
collection is more and tends to decrease when water collection
140000
decreases. Saturation vapour pressure is predicted in the range
al
120000
of 4842.65 to 11889.52 Pa for pyramid solar still and 5050.66
to 14114.04 Pa for pyramid solar still combined with tar coated 1
....
0
100000

80000
blue metal absorber. The difference in saturated vapour
�'" 60000
pressure is very less at higher temperature compared to the ;..,
0 40000
warm up period. So it suggests that the latent heat value has
�oooo
started or starts to increase and at the same time saturation
vapour pressure starts to decrease.

Time (min)
Latent heat value is found to decreases initially with
respect to time. It reaches a low value around 1.00 p.m. because Fig. 7 Variation of grasshof and nusseltmunber with
respect to time for pyramid solar stililUlder two modes
the water temperature at this region is more. So it shows that
of study
the latent heat is decreased at higher order of temperature. Most
of the incoming radiation is utilized for evaporation at this
Nusselt number is found to be increased with respect
stage. Latent heat value is observed in the range of 2416722.46
1 to time. Nusselt number values are observed in the range of
to 2375960.52 kg- for pyramid solar still performance study
1 1.96 to 3.70 for the pyramid still study and 1.65 to 3.93 for the
and 2414936.96 to 2367475.98 kg- for pyramid solar still
pyramid still combined with tar coated blue metal absorber.
com bined with tar coated blue metal absorber. Latent heat is
Nusselt number is found to have close linearity similar to that
fully utilized for boosting the condensation commencing at
of internal convective heat transfer rates. After attaining the
lower temperature from 9.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Thus the effect
maximum value at higher temperature, the Nusselt value
of latent heat is not completely utilized for condensation at
maintains a steady state.
higher temperatures. Latent heat values for the combined
performance are reduced due to the reason of high values of Fig. 8 shows the ratio between the evaporative heat
water temperature. Hence latent heat value is predominant in transfers and the total heat transferred from the water to the
pyramid still performance alone than that of the combined cover (S) with respect to time. It shows the linear increase for
performance study.
0.8
Fig. 7 shows the variation of Grashof number and
Nusselt number with respect to time for pyramid solar still in 0.1

two modes of study. It concludes that Grashof number increases 0.6

with respect to time. Grashof number is found as 10246 to 0.5

128075.03 for the pyramid still performance study and 5123 to

0
.: 0.'
"
;..,
163936.03 for the pyramid still combined with tar coated blue
'" 0.3
metal absorber. Grashof value is found to increase steadily
o.�
during warm up period and then it starts to decrease with
0.1
respect to decrease in water temperature.

�.", I�. 'i.", I�_", 1.-", �-'" �.", �.", ,.", �.", <-'" �-'"
",

Time (min)

Fig. 8 Variation of S ratio with respectto time for

pyramid solar still in two modes of study

all the mode of study and'S' value is found in the range of 0.37
to 0.71 for the pyramid still performance study and 0.33 to 0.74
for the pyramid still combined with tar coated blue metal
absorber. Comparing Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 with Fig. 6, it shows that
the range of temperature of still operation are sensitive to water
temperature and less sensitive to change in top cover
temperature.

303
 INDICES

TABLE I

w - Water c- Acrylic Cover amb - Ambient

HEAT TRANSFER VALUES

a - Air s - Still ci - Internal Convection

QCi Qri Qd Qce Q" Qbe b - Base sky - Sky ei - Internal Evaporation
(W/m') (W/m') (W/m') (W/m') (W/m') W/m')
ri - Internal Radiation re - External Radiation
Pyramid Solar Still 17.22 51.52 127.47 37.11 78.93 4.65
ce - External Convection
Pyramid Solar Still with
23.41 64.96 247.16 41.43 84.09 5.81
Tar Coated Blue Metal

GREEKS SYMBOLS
The thermal conductivity of water is analyzed and it is
3 2 t 3
observed in the range of 26.89x 10- Wm- oc to 28.19x1O-
2 t 3 - Absorptivity Emissivity Coefficient of Transmission
Wm- oc for pyramid still performance study and 26.95x1O- a Ii - T -

2 t 3 2 t
Wm- oc to 28.46x1O- Wm- oc for pyramid still combined 11 - Efficiency(%) p - Density (Kgm-3) v - Wind Velocity (m S-I)
with tar coated blue metal absorber. The dynamic viscosity of
6 2 A Thermal Conductivity (Wm-IoCI) Il- Dynamic Viscosity (Ns m-')
water is predicted in the range of 18.68x1O- Nsm- to 19.46x1O-
-

6 2 Stefan-Boltzman Constant (Wm-'K-4)

Nsm- respectively for pyramid still performance study and (J -

6 2 6 2
18.71x1O- Nsm- to 19.62x1O- Nsm- respectively for pyramid
still combined with tar coated blue metal absorber. The thermal
conductivity and dynamic viscosity increase with respect to
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305