Investigation on performance analysis of a novel design of the vacuum tube-assisted double basin solar still: an experimental approach

In this present work, the lower basin is connected to the conventional vacuum tubes, hence the temperature of water remains higher throughout the day and the distillate output also remains higher and always releases the latent heat of condensation to the upper basin for heating of water and enhancement of the distillate output. In this research paper, the double basin solar still with vacuum tubes fabricated wastested in climate conditions of Mehsana, (23.6000°N, 72.4000°E), Gujarat, with three different water depths 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05 m inside the lower basin and upper basin for one year time period of January 2012 to December 2012. It has been found that the double basin solar still with 0.03 m depth produced more compared with 0.04 kg and 0.05 m. It has also found that the average distillate output of the present system was found to be 8 with the monetary value of produced water being around 0.37 Rs/kg.