Transient performance of a high temperature solar distillation system

Abstract The solar still coupled to a flat-plate solar collector in a very useful appliance for high temperature distillation. This system gives enhanced distillate output owing to higher water-to-cover temperature difference. Moreover, it could also be used to extract essence of flowers, seeds, roots, etc. essentially required in the processing of cosmatic goods. In this communication, transient performance of the proposed system operating under thermosipnon mode is presented. Explicit expressions have been obtained for the temperatures of various components of the proposed system. System-performance has been explicitly expressed as the daily destillate output and the system efficiency. Effects of both still as well as the collector parameters are incorporated in the analysis. Quantitative assessment of the analytical results were made using meteorological parameters for a typical day in Delhi. The investigations made is worthwhile for optimization of the design parameters of the system. Optimal design of the proposed system is also very useful to cater the needs high temperature distillation in remote regions having no electrical power.