Solar Radiation Impact on Solar Still Efficiency in Arid Environments: A Case Study of South-East Algeria

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of seasonal variations and solar radiation intensity on the efficiency and productivity of solar stills for water distillation. Two experiments were conducted in identical conditions, differing only in the time of year: one in mid-January and the other in mid-May. Hourly measurements of distilled water production, along with temperature variations and solar radiation intensity, were recorded. The results highlight significant disparities in solar radiation and ambient temperature between winter and summer, with solar radiation exceeding 1000 W/m² in summer compared to below 601 W/m² in winter. Furthermore, the accumulation of distilled water demonstrated a notable increase during summer, with a daily yield of 1162 ml compared to 160 ml in winter, showcasing the influence of solar radiation on distillate production. These findings underscore the critical role of solar radiation in enhancing the efficiency and productivity of solar stills, with summer yields surpassing 80% thermal efficiency compared to below 40% in winter.