GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Chandkheda, Ahmadabad
Affiliated

SHANTILAL SHAH GOVERNMENT

ENGINEERING COLLEGE
BHAVNAGAR
A Project Report On
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM
Under subject of
DESIGN ENGINEERING – II B
B.E. III, Semester –VI
(Mechanical Branch)

Submitted by:
Group:
Sr Name Of Student Enroll. No.

1. Chudasama Jay R. 180433119006

2. Danadadiya Dhaval M. 180433119008
3. Dave Bhargav D. 180433119009
4. Dodiya Khusalbhai J. 180433119011

Prof.V.S.Chaudhari
(Faculty Guide)

Prof.R.K.Jani
(H.O.D of Mechanical Department)

Academic year
(2020-21)
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

CERTIFICATE

DATE:

This to certify that the dissertation entitled S OLAR DISTILLATION

S YSTEM has been carried out by Chudasama Jay, Dabhi Nitinbhai
, Danadadiya Dhaval, Dave Bhargav, Dodiya Khushal, under
guidance in fulfillment of the Bachelor Engineering in Mechanical
Department of (6thsemester) of Gujarat Technological University,
Ahmadabad during academic year 2020-2021.

Guided By:

Prof.V.S.Chaudhari

(Assistant Professor Mech. Department)

2
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

— This inclusion of UDP curriculum and is great pleasure to express

thanks and give Heartiest gratitude to all those help us during full
periodic for development of the project.

— I want to give our gratitude to Shantilal Shah Govt. Engineering

College Bhavanagar.

— I want to give sincere thanks to our Prof. V.S.Chaudhari who helped

us in Every period of developing this project. He was really a grateful
guide for giving Inspiration & motivation for developing this project. I
am able to carry out Successfully our project through our professor in
due to course of time.

— Nevertheless, I would like to thank our Prof.R.K.Jani Head of

Mechanical Engineering Department for hi inspiration & motivation.I
Would also like to thank to CSMCRI department helped us to give their
knowledge to me for this throughout model.

3
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

ABSTRACT:

 There is almost no water left on earth that is safe to drink without

purification after 20-25 years from today. This is a seemingly bold
statement, but it is unfortunately true. Only 1% of Earth's water is in
a fresh, liquid state, and nearly all of this is polluted by both diseases
and toxic chemicals. For this reason, purification of water supplies is
extremely important.

 Keeping these things in mind, we have devised a model which will

convert the dirty/saline water into pure/potable water using the
renewable source of energy (i.e. solar energy). The basic modes of
the heat transfer involved are radiation, convection and conduction.
The results are obtained by evaporation of the dirty/saline water and
fetching it out as pure/drinkable water.

 The designed model produces 1.5 liters of pure water from 14 liters
of dirty water during six hours. The efficiency of plant is 64.37%. The
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) in the pure water is 81ppm.

4
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

INDEX:

Chapter Topics Page No.

1 Introduction
History
Working Principle
Application
Advantages
Limitations

2 Literature Review

3 Block Diagram

4 Design Of Solar Still

5 Flow Process Chart

6 Conclusion and Future Scope

7 Sheet Image

8 References

5
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 1:

INTRODUCTION:

 Solar water distillation is the process of using energy from the

sunlight to separate freshwater from salts or other contaminants.
The untreated water absorbs heat, slowly reaching high
temperatures. The heat causes the water to evaporate, cool, and
condense into vapour, leaving the contaminants behind.

HISTORY:

 The earliest onset of solar energy use to desalinate water is widely

accredited to Aristotle during the fourth century B.C.E. Earlier
attributions reference the Bible & Moses’ use of a piece of wood to
remove the “bitterness” from water (Exodus 15:25, English Standard
Version). The first documented account of solar distillation use for
desalination was by Giovani Batista Della Porta in 1958. However,
no solar distillation publication of any repute leaves out the Father of
solar distillation, Carlos Wilson, the creator of the first modern sun-
powered desalination plant, built in Las Salinas (The Salts), Chile in
1872.

 This desalination plant "can be considered to be the first industrial

installation for exploitation of solar energy." The Las Salinas plant
was envisioned to take advantage of the nearby saltpeter mining
effluent to supply the miners and their families freshwater. The
facility was quite large for its time and now:

 "The plant was constructed of wood and timber framework covered

with one sheet of glass. It consisted of 64 bays having a total surface
area of 4450 m2 and a total land surface area of 7896 m2. It
produced 22.70 m3 of fresh water per day. The plant was in
operation for about 40 years until the mines were exhausted."

6
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

WORKING PRINCIPLE:

 In this project model there is one G.I. tank. This tank is divided into
two parts. First one for salt water and second for distill water.

 Upper side of this tank there are stand 20 degree angel’s cube by
nut and bolt. There is also upper side of this angle, one frame to
stand a transparent glass by nut bolt and stripes.

 This structure should make perfectly airtight and put this structure on
tares under the sun rays. When we put this structure under the sun
rays, sun rays are fall on a glass and makes hot water. When it’s
make hot water, there create evaporation.

 Because of this evaporation there are creates many water drops

inside surface of glass.

 Cause to slop of glass their water drops are sleep and fall in a
second part of tank. And this water is distilled water.

 Using such an experimental analysis one can know that, which angle
is optimum angle (20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45) for obtaining the
highest efficiency of the system.

APPLICATIONS:

1. This system can be placed where the sun rays are higher
available.

2. Site selection should be such a place where salt water is

higher available.

3. Sea shore areas are best location to build such a system.

4. This system can also be used in hill stations, where huge

amount of impure water is available but there is a need of pure
drinking water. (Like army training)

5. Distilled water can be used in battery water, drinking water

(by adding some additives), polluted water etc.

6. Its best cost effective solution for a water contained with

harmful bacteria’s.
7
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

ADVANTAGES:

1. It’s make distill water out of salt water.

2. Less cost.
3. There isn’t any requirement of skilled worker.
4. Works without external power source like electricity,IC engine
etc.
5. Less maintenance cost.
6. By adding some additives, this system might be useful to solve
water crises of world where there is a lake of pure water.
7. This system can be work anywhere in world where sufficient
sea
water and solar energy available.
8. By optimizing different design variables one can achieve better
efficiency.

LIMITATIONS:

1. Low efficiency.
2. Only work on fully sunny day.
3. System should be isolated with atmospheric air.
4. System highly depends on atmospheric temperature.

8
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 2:

LITERATURE REVIEW

SOLAR DISTALLATION SYSTEM

Hitesh N Panchal and P.K. Shah [01], analyzed a hemispherical

solar still using ANSYS CFD simulation. Today, problem of distil
(pure) water is one of the major problems in all over the world. A
device, which converts salt water into drinkable water, is called solar
still. Many scientists of world applied their work on solar still to
increase output. Hemispherical solar still have hemispherical head,
which can receive solar radiation from anywhere, so that there is no
need of applying solar tracking system. So, here, two dimensional
three-phase model of hemispherical solar still is made for
evaporation also to condensation process in ANSYS CFD. It’s output
is higher difference of temperature of water inside basin and inner
glass cover, higher distillate output from this solar still. ANSYS CFD
is very important tool for comparison of experimental results, with
errors in measurements. This literature review shows that this
hemispherical solar still can give best distillate output compare to
other type solar still.

Hitesh N Panchal1 and P. K. Shah [02], Modelled and verify a

single slope solar still using ANSYS-CFX. Solar distillation method is
an easy, small scale and cost effective technique for providing distil
water. Solar still is a device which uses process of solar distillation.
They made a three dimensional model for evaporation &
condensation process in solar still by using ANSYS CFX method to
simulate the present model. A two phase, three dimensional model
were developed and simulation continue up to 8 hours continuously
as 8 steps of 1 hour period. Simulation results of solar still compared
with actual experiment data of single basin solar still at climate
conditions of Mehsana (23°12’ N, 72°30’). There is a good
agreement with experimental results and simulation results of
distillate output. There is a good result of water temperature and
heat transfer coefficients. There is a good result of glass cover
temperature compare to other solar still. Overall literature review
shows the ANSYS CFX is a powerful tool for diagnostic as well as
analysis of solar still.

9
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

Bhavsinh Zala et. al. [03], reviewed on a present status of solar

still. Today, problem of distil (pure) water is one of the major
problems in all over the world. A device, which converts salt water
into drinkable water, is called solar still. There are random radiations
of sun in all over the world. Lower latitude places should use double
slope solar still and higher latitude places should use single slope
solar still. Lower thickness glass cover is preferred compared with
higher thickness glass cover due to its higher absorptions. Glass is
most suitable material for the solar still cover because of higher
transmittance and higher thermal conductivity. Day time as well as
night time productivity of solar still is greatly depends on the heat
capacity and water capacity inside the basin. To improve the higher
absorption of the water, black die is most preferable compared with
another dies. For higher radiation intensity places deep basin solar
still should be prefer for nocturnal production and lower radiation
intensity places shallow basin solar still should be prefer.

Hitesh N Panchal and Dr. P. K. Shah [04], analyzed an Effect of

varying glass cover thickness on Performance of solar still: In a
winter climate conditions. There is a research on effect of different
thicknesses glass cover on passive single-slope single basin solar
still in winter climatic conditions of Mehsana (23°12’ N, 72°30’) from
September, 2010 to Feb. 2011. In this research there are used three
different thicknesses of glass cover of 4 mm, 8 mm and 12 mm.
Research says that, Lower glass cover thickness increases distillate
output from solar still. There is a 4 mm glass cover thickness
produces more distillate output compared with 8 mm as well as 12
mm. Lower glass cover thickness increases water temperature
inside of the solar still. Lower glass cover thickness decreases inner
glass cover temperature inside solar still. Lower Glass cover
thickness increases temperature difference between water as well
as inner glass cover temperature. Highest Distillate output is
obtained in the month of November, 2010 among other 5 months.
But in this month, highest distillate output is obtained due to 4 mm
glass cover thickness. So the review is that, 4 mm glass cover
thickness is most prominent thickness of present experiment.

H.N. Panchal and P.K. Shah [05], presented a Char performance

Analysis of Different Energy Absorbing Plates on Solar Stills Solar
water distillation by solar still is the most basic purification systems
available today to get high quality of drinking water. There are three
solar stills have developed by locally available materials. The first
one is a conventional type and the second solar still is consists of
10
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

Aluminum plate while the third one consists of Galvanized iron (GI)
plate. The distillation of water is increase during the 9:00AM to 3:00
PM and it is decreases after this time because of the intensity of
solar rays. Aluminum plate has good thermal conductivity compared
with Galvanized Iron (GI) plate as well as Conventional solar still
absorber. So the distillate output of solar still of Al plate found more
compared with solar still of GI plate and conventional solar. Total
distillate output of experimented days of June, 2011 found more
productive in the solar still of Al. plate compared with solar still of GI
Plate and conventional solar still. The total distillate output of solar
still of Al. Plate obtained 6712 ml, solar still of GI plate of 5570, &
convention solar still of 4710. An increase in distillate output was
found to be 30 % for solar still of Al. plate and 12% for solar still of GI
plate compared with conventional solar still. So this review says that,
Aluminum plate is the best plate to obtain higher distillate output
from solar still. Distillate output from solar still.

Hitesh N Panchal and P. K. Shah [06], Presented a Performance

Analysis of Solar Still Having Different Plates Solar distillation is one
of the important methods of getting distil water from salt and sea
water using the free energy supply from the sun. This experiment is
made with three solar stills. First one solar stills is Aluminum &
second one is Galvanized Iron when third solar still is taken as
conventional solar still. There is a testing of solar stills of aluminum
plate & galvanized iron plate compared with conational solar still,
under the same sun rays conditions of Mehsana Gujarat. The
observation says that Intensity of solar radiation increases from
morning 9 am to 3 pm, then it decreases due to less sunshine hours.
Higher temperature of solar still always leads to higher distillate
output; it is observed in solar still having Aluminum plate. Distillate
output of solar still having Aluminum plate is higher compared with
conventional solar still and Solar still having Galvanized Iron plate.
Result of distillate output of solar still of aluminum plate is higher
compared with conventional solar still and Solar still of Galvanized
Iron plate. 45
% more output achieved by solar still of Aluminum plate and 15 %
more output achieved by solar still of Galvanized iron plate. So the
conclude is that the aluminum solar still gave high output of distill
water compared with the other observed solar stills.

11
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

Hitesh N Panchal et. at. [07], studied Effect of Cow dung cakes
inside basin on heat transfer coefficients and productivity of single
basin single slope solar still. Solar water distillation by solar still is
the most basic purification systems available today to get high
quality of drinking water. This experiment is made to find the effect of
cow dung cakes arranged on the surface of absorber in single slope
single basin solar still during summer climate conditions of month
July, 2010.at Mehsana Gujarat. To know about distillate output
difference, experiment has done by use of two identical solar still,
one by use of cow dung cakes on simple absorber plate and other
steel absorber plate. This experiment has done to know about
variation in internal heat transfer coefficients like evaporative heat
transfer coefficient, convective heat transfer coefficient and
radioactive heat transfer coefficient as well as output of solar still.
The experimental result clearly shows that,
thermal performance of cow dung solar still is consider very higher
compared with steel absorber plate solar still. And as well as we
clearly know that when the thermal performance of the unit is highs,
then output of distil water is increase. Experiment says that,
evaporative heat transfer coefficient is higher in case of solar still
consisting of cow dung cakes inside the solar still, compare with
other heat transfer coefficient. By use of cow dung type solar still
increases distillate output of 25% more compared with steel
absorber plate solar still.

Hitesh N. Panchal et. al. [08], experimentally investigated a

coupling evacuated heat pipe collector on single basin single slope
solar still a device, which converts salt water into drinkable water, is
called solar still. Solar still is a very important device to convert the
available salt water into the distil water. By this experiment we have
known the effect of coupling and evacuated heat pipe collector on
the solar still. We have also know the effect of other different
parameters like water depth, sun direction & solar radiation to
increase the productivity by this experiment. The experiment has
found that coupling & evacuated heat pipe collector with a solar steel
has increase the productivity by 32% higher than alone solar still.
This experiment is also found that the productivity is reduced while
using higher water depth, and solar installation is directly proposal to
the productivity. So the output of this experiment is that the coupling
& heat pipe collector with solar still is get higher productivity than
alone solar still.

12
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

RESEARCH GAP

1. There isn’t any available literature which suggest to use proper

tilting angle for better performance of solar distillation
system. So it’s very important to make a proper experimental
System which can optimize a tilt angle of the system.

2. There is a new horizon for a research in a field of shape of the

Solar still using spherical shape. But it a vacuum in the field of
Experimental work.

3. There isn’t any open literature which suggest the material and
Thickness of the solar still glass.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

1. To study the different terms and basic fundamentals related to

solar distillation system.

2. To draft an experimental set up of rectangular shaped solar still

using AUTOCAD.

3. To develop an cost effective experimental set up of rectangular

solar still for the optimization of still angle using proper
adjustments.

13
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 3:

BLOCK DIAGRAM:

14
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 4:

DESIGN OF SOLAR STILL:

Construction of Solar Still

Figure.1 Proposed Model of Solar Distillation System

 The base of the solar still is made of G.I. box of dimension (4’ x 2’ x
10 cm). This box is embedded into another box of wood shown in
figure 1. Here length L= 65 cm, Breath B= 125cm, Height H= 30 cm.
and at opposite side = 13 cm, Angle Θ = 150.

 This also contains same box of thermocol inside it between the G.I
box and wooden box. The thermocol is having 15 cm thickness. The
channel is fixed such that the water slipping on the surface of the
glass will fall in this channel under the effect of gravity. A frame of
fibre stick is fixed with the wooden box so that glass can rest on it.
This completes the construction of the model.

 The holes for the inlet of water, outlet of brackish water and outlet of
pure water is made as per the convenience. We have made the
outlet of brackish water at right bottom of the model (seeing from
front of the model), outlet of the pure water at the end of the channel
and inlet at the right wall above the outlet.

15
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

Details of Different Parts of the System

Still Basin: It is the part of the system in which the water to be

distilled is kept. It is therefore essential that it must absorb solar
energy. Hence it is necessary that the material have high
absorbtivity or very less reflectivity and very less transmitivity. These
are the criteria’s for selecting the basin materials.
Kinds of the basin materials that can be used are as follows: 1.
Leather sheet, 2. Ge silicon, 3. Mild steel plate, 4. RPF (reinforced
platic) 5. G.I. (galvanised iron).

We have used blackened galvanised iron sheet(K= thermal

conductivity= 300W/m0C) (3mm thick).( SIZE:: 4’ X 2’ X 10 cm BOX
OF G.I.).

Side Walls: It generally provides rigidness to the still. But

technically it provides thermal resistance to the heat transfer that
takes place from the system to the surrounding. So it must be made
from the material that is having low value of thermal conductivity and
should be rigid enough to sustain its own weight and the weight of
the top cover (refer fig.no.2).
Different kinds of materials that can be used are: 1) wood , 2)
concrete, 3) thermocol, 4) RPF (reinforced plastic).
For better insulation we have used composite wall of thermocol
(inside) and wood (outside). (Size: wood(k= thermal
conductivity=0.6W/m0C):-- 8 mm thick, thermocol(k= thermal
conductivity=0.02W/m0C):--- 15 mm thick).

Figure.2 Side Walls for Solar Still

16
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

Top Cover: The passage from where irradiation occurs on the

surface of the basin is top cover. Also it is the surface where
condensate collects. So the features of the top cover are: 1)
Transparent to solar radiation, 2) Non absorbent and Non-adsorbent
of water ,3) Clean and smooth surface. The Materials Can Be Used
Are: 1) Glass, 2) Polythene.
We have used glass (3mm) (figure 3)thick as top cover having
rubber tube as frame border. (size 4’ x 2’cm).

Figure.3 Solar Still Glass with Cover

Channel: The condensate that is formed slides over the inclined top
cover and falls in the passage, this passage which fetches out the
pure water is called channel. The materials that can be used are:
P.V.C., 2) G.I. , 3) RPF .
We have used P.V.C channel (figure.4)(size:: 4.5’ X 1” cm).

Figure.4 Solar Still Channel Design

17
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

Supports for Top Cover: The frame provided for supporting

the top cover is an optional thing. I.e. it can be used if required. We
have used fibre stick as a support to hold glass (size :: 5 mm X
5mm). The only change in our model is that we have to make the
model as vacuumed as possible. So we have tried to make it airtight
by sticking tape on the corners of the glass and at the edges of the
box from where the possibility of the leakage of inside hot air is
maximum.

Figure.5 Working model of solar distillation system

18
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

P ART LIST:

Sr. No. Part Name Make/Buy Qty. Material

1 Gi Sheet Buy 01 GI

2 Angle Adjutancy Make 06 GI

3 Frame Make 01 GI

4 Glass Buy 01 -

5 Strips Make 01 MS

Bolts With Nuts &

6 Buy 32 CS
Washer

7 Tubes Tubes 02 Rubber

8 Flow Control Valve Flow Control 01 PVC

9 Inlet Structure Buy 01 PVC

19
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

COST ESTIMATION

SR. PART NAME QTY. TOTAL COST

NO In Rs.
1
GI Sheet 1 400/-

2
Tank 1 570/-

3
Glass 1 100/-

4
Nut ball with washer 32 100/-
5
Color - 110/-

6
M. S. Strip 2 50/-
7
Flow control valve 1 30/-

8
Inlet 1 30/-

9
Marker 1 10/-

10
Transportation - 200/-

11
Fevikwik 2 10/-

12
Water level Indicator 2 20/-

1630/-
Total

20
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 5:

FLOW PROCESS CHART

NO DESCRIPTION TIME(MIN) O D 

1 MATERIAL LYING FROM -

STORE
2 TRANSPORT TO TABLE 2

3 MARKING 15

4 CUTTING METAL SHEET 60

5 FINISHING WITH FILE 20

6 INSPECTION 5

7 TRANSPOT TO WELD SHOP 2

8 SPOT WELDING 60

9 INSPECTION 5

10 ARC WELDING 30

11 FINISHING 10
12 INSPECTION 5

TRANSPORT TO DRILL
13 5
MACHINE

14 DRILLING 60

15 INSPECTION 5

16 TRANSPORT TO PAINTING 5

17 PAINTING 30

18 AWAIT TO PAINT DRY 180

19 ASSEMBLY 15

20 READY PROJECT TO TEST -

21 TOTAL DURATION 514

21
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 6:

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

CONCLUSION

After success of this project one can conclude that it’s best viable
solution for making distill water without supply of external energy. It
is observed that system should be mounted on 30° for maximum
distill water and 35° for maximum efficiency of the system. So its
advisable to run such a system in between the range of 30°-35° tilt
angle for getting better output of distilled water and efficiency of the
system.

FUTURE’S SCOPE

To put the spherical transparent glass instead of the flat transparent

glass, the system can observe the same heat and same evaporation
at all position of sun during day. To put the solar plate instead of a
transparent glass, it can work hole sunny day at maximum
performance point.

22
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 7:

SHEET IMAGE’S:

IDEATION CANVAS:

23
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CANVAS:

24
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

MIND MAPPING:

25
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

AEIOU SUMMARY:

26
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

EMPATHY MAPPING:

27
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

Learning Need Matrix:

28
SOLAR DISTILLATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 8:

REFERENCES:

1 CSMCRI BHAVNAGAR

2 Google (Some Basic Details)

29