Active solar distillation system—An investment alternative to a solar hot water system

Abstract The present analysis evaluates a collector assisted solar distillation system as an investment alternative to a solar hot water system. Techno-economic analysis is performed for both systems in the same economic environment and considering the same capacity. On the basis of annual numerical computations, it is concluded that (a) the cost of hot water for ΔT = 30 to 40° (0.045 Rs/1) is much less than the cost of distilled water (0.43 Rs/1), while the cost of energy from the distillation system (0.69 Rs/kWh) is much less than the cost of energy obtained from the water heater (1.80 Rs/kWh) and (b) the annual operating cost of the solar water heater is higher than that of the solar still because of the higher initial investment in the former.