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Solar stills: A comprehensive review of designs, performance and material advances

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  • Dsilva Winfred Rufuss, D.
  • Iniyan, S.
  • Suganthi, L.
  • Davies, P.A.

Abstract

The demand for fresh water production is growing day by day with the increase in world population and with industrial growth. Use of desalination technology is increasing to meet this demand. Among desalination technologies, solar stills require low maintenance and are readily affordable; however their productivity is limited. This paper aims to give a detailed review about the various types of solar stills, covering passive and active designs, single- and multi-effect types, and the various modifications for improved productivity including reflectors, heat storage, fins, collectors, condensers, and mechanisms for enhancing heat and mass transfer. Photovoltaic–thermal and greenhouse type solar stills are also covered. Material advances in the area of phase change materials and nanocomposites are very promising to enhance further performance; future research should be carried out in these and other areas for the greater uptake of solar still technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Dsilva Winfred Rufuss, D. & Iniyan, S. & Suganthi, L. & Davies, P.A., 2016. "Solar stills: A comprehensive review of designs, performance and material advances," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 464-496.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:63:y:2016:i:c:p:464-496
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.05.068
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    6. Arunkumar, T. & Raj, Kaiwalya & Dsilva Winfred Rufuss, D. & Denkenberger, David & Tingting, Guo & Xuan, Li & Velraj, R., 2019. "A review of efficient high productivity solar stills," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 197-220.
    7. Mu, L. & Chen, L. & Lin, L. & Park, Y.H. & Wang, H. & Xu, P. & Kota, K. & Kuravi, S., 2021. "An overview of solar still enhancement approaches for increased freshwater production rates from a thermal process perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    8. Jani, Hardik K. & Modi, Kalpesh V., 2018. "A review on numerous means of enhancing heat transfer rate in solar-thermal based desalination devices," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 302-317.
    9. Arunkumar, T. & Wang, Jiaqiang & Denkenberger, D., 2021. "Capillary flow-driven efficient nanomaterials for seawater desalination: Review of classifications, challenges, and future perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    10. Shalaby, S.M., 2017. "Reverse osmosis desalination powered by photovoltaic and solar Rankine cycle power systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 789-797.
    11. Kumar R, Reji & Pandey, A.K. & Samykano, M. & Aljafari, Belqasem & Ma, Zhenjun & Bhattacharyya, Suvanjan & Goel, Varun & Ali, Imtiaz & Kothari, Richa & Tyagi, V.V., 2022. "Phase change materials integrated solar desalination system: An innovative approach for sustainable and clean water production and storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
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    13. Abbas Sahi Shareef & Hayder Jabbar Kurji & Ali Bani Khassaf & Iman M Abd Zaid, 2022. "Technologies for Purified Water Extraction Using Single-Slope Solar Stills Equipped With Magnets and Graphite Fins," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 9(10), pages 01-08, October.

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