Energy and exergy analysis of conventional acrylic solar still with and without copper fins

A detailed exergy analysis of a conventional and copper finned acrylic solar still has been presented in this manuscript. The evaporative, convective, and radiative heat transfer coefficient of water-glass has been calculated. Also energy efficiency, exergy destruction of basin, water, and glass has been determined. Conventional acrylic solar still with fins produced maximum hourly output of 1.24 kg and it produced daily output of 5.08 kg. The conventional acrylic solar still without fins produced maximum hourly output of 0.94 kg and it produced daily output of 3.75 kg. The maximum exergy destruction of the basin, water, and glass for the conventional acrylic solar still with fins are 655.206, 83.35, and 90.48 W/m², respectively, and conventional acrylic solar still without fins are 616.28, 122.34, and 48.64 W/m², respectively. The energy and exergy effectiveness of the conventional acrylic solar still with fins are 32 and 2.81%, respectively, and without fins are 24.93 and 1.69%, respectively. The study reveals that exergy destruction of water in the case of still with fins is minimum as related to the exergy destruction of water in the case of still without fins.