Improving the Productivity of the Single Basin Solar still

A single basin single slope solar still with 0.82mx 0.81m x 0.75m has been fabricated with G.I sheet and tested with different water depths of 2,3,4cm. Various solid and liquid sensible heat storage materials, Evaporative surface materials are used in the form of billets, in the still. To reduce glass cover temperature the outer glass was cooled by using sprinkler manually at regular interval of time. Theoretical analysis was performed and compared with experimental values. The performances of modified still were compared with conventional still of same size running under the same meteorological conditions. The solid sensible heat storage materials produces48% more productivity than conventional still. Liquid sensible heat storage material produces 19% more than conventional in till. The payback period of the still was 340 days.