Transient performance of a double-basin solar still integrated with a heat exchanger

This paper is devoted to the development of a transient model of the performance of a double-basin solar still. Integration of the still with a heat exchanger has been suggested in order to enhance its distillate output per unit area. This integration can be achieved by flowing hot fluid through the still. A detailed analysis has been carried out for the integrated system, incorporating the effects of various system parameters such as water mass in the upper and lower basins, heat-exchanger length, inlet temperature, mass-flow rate of heat-exchanger fluid, various heat-transfer coefficients, etc., as well as meteorological parameters. Data corresponding to a typical cold day (15 January 1987) at New Delhi have been used for computations. It is found that use of the heat exchanger increases the system efficiency significantly.