| description abstract | This study conducts an experimental assessment to investigate the influence of black gravel and cylindrical cement fins as thermal heat storage materials in a single-slope solar still. The trials are performed under the meteorological conditions of North-East, Silchar (24.76°N, 92.80°E), India. The performance of each modification is evaluated experimentally and compared to a conventional solar still (CSS) at three different water depths in the basin: 2 cm, 4 cm, and 6 cm. The study assessed the cumulative distillate output, along with a 4E analysis (energy, exergy, economic, and ecological analyses) of the solar stills. The outcomes show that at a 2 cm water depth, the daily yield and efficiency of the solar still with black gravel (SSBG) are 27% and 18% higher, respectively, when compared to the CSS. Additionally, the solar still with cylindrical cement fins (SSCCFs) achieved the highest daily production of 4462.4 mL/m2 with an efficiency of 41.5%. The cost assessment disclosed that the cost per liter of distillate water produced by SSBG and SSCCF is 18% and 23% lower, respectively, than the CSS at a water level of 2 cm. Moreover, the SSCCF improved carbon credits by 26% and enhanced carbon emission mitigation by 110.87% compared to the CSS at the same water depth. Solar stills equipped with energy storage provide a cost-effective solution for tackling water scarcity. | |
