Parameters of construction, positioning, orientation and those of adequate operation of a solar distiller in the south east of Algeria
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Some residents of southeastern Algeria have heard of solar stills and their use as simple devices to purify the brackish water that is abundantly found in this region. In view of putting an end to the lack of drinking water, the residents turned to the Process Engineering Laboratory at Ouargla University to have answers to questions that concern them, such as the design of these devices and their operating parameters. The task is then entrusted to three Master’s students to answer their questions. The students designed for this investigation four simple single-slope stills and highlighted the study of some key parameters that make the use of these devices efficient. Their investigation then focuses on certain parameters, namely: the inclination and thickness of the glass cover, the depth of the brackish water, the geographical orientation of these distillers, and the influence of certain climatic parameters such as solar intensity and wind speed. The results obtained show that the optimal thickness of the glass cover is 4mm, tilted by an angle of 30° with a brackish water depth of 0.5 cm; the device will be placed towards south direction facing sun with high wind speed location. The average gains are: 40% for south orientation compared to the north; 34.38% for 4mm thickness compared to other thickness; 8.52% for the minimum water depth of 0.5 cm and 31.2% for the air speed of 4.3 m/s. Finally, we obtain distilled water with 96% purity and we advise users of solar stills to add an adsorbent or a photocatalyst to the water in the basin to get rid of all organic impurities accompanying distillate.
Source: Desalination and Water Treatment
Institutions: University of Ouargla, University of Eloued
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $1,000
OpenAlex ID: W4367537586