Mathematical and experimental investigation on the influence of basin height variation and stirring of water by solar PV panels in solar still

A detailed evaluation on height variation (0.45 m to 0.15 m) between saline water surface and glass cover is discussed in this work. Impact of height variation is analyzed with different thermal models and validated with experimental results. Best basin height is selected and further inquiries are conducted by creating turbulence in the saline water using four stirrers. The stirring action is performed by motors operated with a solar photovoltaic panel. Investigations are continued by placing the paraffin wax and charcoal in the basin. Consequence of the test shows that the fresh water production rate of solar still accelerates with the reduction in height. The stirrer action escalates the evaporation rate in solar still and thereby 30% increase in distillate compared to the conventional solar still. Nocturnal fresh water output of the solar still augments with the energy storage materials in basin. The peak daily yield is collected as 5.23 kg/m(2) day for solar still with the combination of stirrer and paraffin wax as energy storage material in the basin. Theoretical result agrees well with the experimental results.