Updates on Evaporation and Condensation Methods for the Performance Improvement of Solar Stills

He Fu, Min Dai, Hanwen Song, Xiaoting Hou, Fahid Riaz, Shuai Li, Ke Yang, Imran Ali, Changsheng Peng and Muhammad Sultan
Additional contact information
He Fu: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Health and Land Resource, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, China
Min Dai: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Health and Land Resource, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, China
Hanwen Song: The Key Lab of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Xiaoting Hou: The Key Lab of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Fahid Riaz: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117575, Singapore
Shuai Li: The Key Lab of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Ke Yang: Instituto de Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí C.P. 78210, Mexico
Imran Ali: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Changsheng Peng: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Health and Land Resource, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, China
Muhammad Sultan: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-26

Abstract: Solar still, a small equipment using evaporation and condensation processes to get clean water, is expected to be widely used for sea/brackish water desalination, water purification, and wastewater treatment because of its convenient carrying, friendly environment, and low energy consumption. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in improving the productivity of solar still. This paper will reclassify the methods to improve the solar still by elevating the evaporation rate and condensation rate. The main methods increasing evaporation rate are as follows: (i) adding heat storage materials; (ii) using nanoparticles; (iii) changing structure of the absorption plate; and (iv) using photothermal materials. The primary methods increasing the condensation rate are as follows: (i) cooling the condensing surface; (ii) increasing the condensation area; (iii) changing the wettability of the condensing surface; and (iv) using a separate condenser. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are compared. Furthermore, this paper includes an economic analysis of current solar stills and a forecast of future developments. The freshwater cost of solar still is in the range of about USD 0.0061–0.277/L, which provides reference and direction for future researching solar stills on their low cost and high productivity.

Keywords: solar still; productivity enhancement; evaporation rate; condensation rate; review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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