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• Systematic review of vertical modifications in solar stills for enhanced efficiency. • Key components: vertical wicks, heating coils, PV modules, reflectors. • Elevates feedwater/distillate temps; reduces thermal resistance & footprint. • Productivity gains: 84–107% (wicks), 54–66% (coils), 9–71% (PV), 9–33% (reflectors). • Outlines future research directions for compact, high-yield solar stills. Global freshwater scarcity, coupled with rising demand, necessitates advancements in solar desalination technologies for sustainable water security. This study systematically reviews the integration of vertically modified components—such as wicks, external heating coils, photovoltaic (PV) modules, and reflectors—in solar stills to enhance thermal efficiency and distillation rates. By elevating feedwater and distillate temperatures, these modifications significantly improve productivity: vertical wicks increase output by 84–107%, heating coils by 54–66%, PV modules by 9–71%, and reflectors by 9–33%. These enhancements are achieved without increasing horizontal footprint, optimizing land use through compact designs. The review highlights how reduced thermal resistance and elevated temperatures synergistically boost distillation efficiency. This analysis provides critical insights for future research, emphasizing the potential of vertically configured systems to address global freshwater challenges effectively.
Ahmed et al. (Sun,) studied this question.