SOLAR DESALINATION

Presented by.
Reshama Santosh Tayde
SOLAR DESALINATION TECHNIQUES
Potable Water Less than 550 ppm
Requirement Domestic, Industries and
Agriculture
Sources of Potable Rivers, Lakes, Ponds, Wells etc.
Water
Demand of Potable 15-25 litres / person / day
Water (OLD)
100-125 litres / person / day
(NEW)
Underground 2,000 – 2,500 ppm
Saline Water
Sea Water 30,000 – 50,000 ppm
 Solar Distillation

Passive Distillation Active

Distillation
Conventiona Multi-effect New Design Inclined Solar High Temp Nocturnal
l Solar Still Solar Still Solar Still Still Distillation Distillation

With With Auxiliary Distillation

Reflector Condenser heating with
distillation collector
panel

Life raft Spherical Tubular Regeneration

Classification of Solar Distillation Systems

TYPES OF SOLAR STILL

• Single Effect Basin Solar Still

• Tilted Tray Solar Still
• Multibasin Stepped Solar Still
• Regeneration Inclined Step Solar Still
• Wick Type Solar Still
• Multiple Effect Diffusion Solar Still
• Chimney Type Solar Still
• Multi-Tray Multiple Effect Solar Still
• Double Basin Solar Still
• Humidification Dumidification Distiller
• Multistage Flash Distiller
• Solar – Assisted wiped film Multistage Flash Distiller
MAIN TECHNIQUES FOR DISTILLATION
a) Flash Distillation
b) Vapor Compression Process.
c) Electrodialysis
d) Reverse Osmosis.
e) Solar Distillation.

GUIDELINES
1. Quantity of Fresh Water Required and its End Use.
2. Available Water Sources, such as Sea, Ponds, Wells, Swamps etc.
3. Proximity to nearest Fresh Water Sources.
4. Availability of Electric Power at the Site or Closeby.
5. Cost of Supplying Fresh Water by Various Methods.
6. Cost and Availability of Labor in the Region.
7. Maintenance and Daily Operational Requirements.
8. Life Span of the Water Supply System.
9. Economic Value of the Region.
Schematic of basin-type solar still
 MATERIALS FOR SOLAR STILLS

• GLAZING: Should have high transmittance for solar radiation, opaque to

thermal radiation, resistance to abrasion, longlife, low cost, high wettability
for water, lightweight, easy to handle and apply, and universal availability.
Materials used are: glass or treated plastic.
• LINER: Should absorb more solar radiation, should be durable, should be
water tight, easily cleanable, low cost, and should be able to withstand
temperature around 100 Deg C. Materials used are: asphalt matt, black butyl
rubber, black polyethylene etc.
• SEALANT: Should remain resilient at very low temperatures, low cost,
durable and easily applicable. Materials used are: putty, tars, tapes silicon,
sealant.
• BASIN TRAY: Should have longlife, high resistance to corrosion and low
cost. Materials used are: wood, galvanized iron, steel, aluminium, asbestos
cement, masonary bricks, concrete, etc.
• CONDENSATE CHANNEL: Materials used are: aluminium, galvanized iron,
concrete, plastic material, etc.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF A GOOD
SOLAR STILL
• Be easily assembled in the field,'
• Be constructed with locally available materials,
• Be light weight for ease of handling and transportation,
• Have an effective life of 10 to 20 Yrs.
• No requirement of any external power sources,
• Can also serve as a rainfall catchment surface,
• Is able to withstand prevailing winds,
• Materials used should not contaminate the distillate,
• Meet standard civil and structural engineering standards, and,
• Should be low in cost.
EFFECT OF OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS
1. The effect of operational parameters was studied on five single
sloped solar stills each with a basin area of 0.58 Sq.m. All are
of identical construction except still 5 had 5 cm thick sawdust
insulation.
2. The effect of water depth was studied by filing stills with 2.0,
4.0,6.0,8.0 cm water for uninsulated stills and 4.0 cm for
insulated still.
3. Higher distillate output was observed with lower water depth.
4. The insulated still gave higher output.
5. The effect of dye on water output was also studied. The output
got increased by colouring the water.
6. The effect of use of waste heat for heating the saline water in
still was also studied. One still was filled with water at 30°C
and the other with water at 45°C. Higher output was observed
in a still using water at higher temperature.
MAIN PROBLEMS OF SOLAR
STILL

• Low distillate output per unit area

• Leakage of vapour through joints
• High maintenance
• Productivity decreases with time for a variety of reasons
• Cost per unit output is very high
CONCLUSIONS ON BASIN- TYPE SOLAR
STILL (CONTD.)

• Number of transparent covers in a solar still do not increase the

output since it increases the temperature of the inner cover
resulting in lower condensation of water vapour.
• Lower cover slope increases the output. From practical
considerations a minimum cover slope of 10 deg. is suggested.
• The maximum possible efficiency of a single basin solar still is
about 60 percent.
• For higher receipt of solar radiation and therefore the higher
yield the long axis of the solar still should be placed in the
East-West direction if the still is installed at a high latitude
station. At low latitude stations the orientation has no effect on
solar radiation receipt.