Eco-Friendly Water Purification Using a Single
Slope Solar Still
1
ALAMUTHU.R, 2DHINESH.C, 3 THANGAVEL.G, 4SANTHOSH.S
1
Assistant Professor, Gnanamani College of Technology, Panchal, Namakkal-637018
2
UG Student, Gnanamani College of Technology, Panchal, Namakkal-637018
3
UG Student, Gnanamani College of Technology, Panchal, Namakkal-637018
4
UG Student, Gnanamani College of Technology, Panchal, Namakkal-637018
Abstract— Access to clean and safe drinking water Therefore, enhancing the performance of these systems
remains a critical global challenge, particularly in without compromising their simplicity and sustainability
remote and arid regions. This study investigates an is a key area of current research. Strategies such as
thermal energy storage, evaporative surface
eco-friendly approach to water purification through
modifications, and reflective coatings have been
the use of a single-slope solar still, a sustainable and explored to improve efficiency. This study builds
low-cost solution powered by renewable solar energy. upon recent experimental work and introduces an eco-
Enhancements were introduced to improve the still’s conscious improvement to the single-slope solar still by
efficiency, including the integration of reflective incorporating reflective aluminum foils and blackened
aluminium foils to maximize solar radiation stainless steel balls. These modifications aim to optimize
absorption and the use of blackened stainless steel solar energy absorption and evaporation surface area,
thereby improving freshwater output. The system
balls to expand the effective evaporation surface area.
remains entirely passive, cost-effective, and emissions-
Experimental results demonstrated that these free, making it a strong candidate for real-world
modifications significantly boosted freshwater output, applications in water-scarce communities and disaster
with the use of 10 mm steel balls achieving a 38.07% relief scenarios.
increase in productivity compared to a conventional
still. The system operates with zero emissions and
minimal maintenance, confirming its potential as a
green, scalable solution for decentralized water
purification in water-scarce environment thermal
Fig.2.1.
efficiencies by various rates.
I. INTRODUCTION
The availability of clean drinking water is an essential
component of human health, economic development, and
environmental sustainability. However, with increasing
global population, industrialization, and climate change,
freshwater resources are under immense pressure.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
billions of people worldwide lack reliable access to safe
drinking water, particularly in arid regions and
developing nations. In such regions, traditional water
treatment infrastructures are often non-existent,
underfunded, or heavily dependent on fossil fuels,
contributing to both economic strain and environmental
degradation.Solar distillation offers a promising, eco-
friendly alternative for decentralized water purification. It
harnesses renewable solar energy to separate impurities
and salts from water through natural evaporation and
condensation processes. Among the various solar-based
purification systems, the single-slope solar still has
attracted attention due to its operational simplicity,
affordability, and minimal maintenance requirements.
This system consists of a basin filled with impure water,
covered by a sloped transparent glass or plastic sheet.
Solar radiation heats the water, causing it to evaporate
and condense on the cooler interior surface of the cover,
where it is collected as distilled water. Despite its
potential, the major limitation of conventional solar stills
lies in their low thermal efficiency and limited water
yield, typically less than 5 liters per square meter per day.
2.1.1 Materials properties tempered glass sheet was fixed at an angle to serve as the
transparent cover, allowing sunlight in and facilitating
Table 2.1.Materials properties condensation. Silicone sealant was applied to ensure airtight
joints. A funnel and outlet pipe were added for water input and
distillate collection. The unit was assembled, sealed, and tested
Sl.
Materials Specifications for leakage and performance under sunlight.
N
o
Galvanized Iron sheet, 1 Figure2.3
Basin Tray
1 m × 1 m × 0.1 m, black
painted
5 mm thick tempered
Transparent
2 glass, inclined at 35°
Cover
Insulation Thermopolis sheet, 30
3
Material mm thick
Frame Structure Wooden frame with
4
water-resistant coating
Sealing Material
Silicone sealant, high
5 temperature resistant
Collection
U-shaped PVC pipe, 25
Channel
mm diameter
6
Absorbent
Matte black paint with
7 Coating
high solar absorptivity II. Material Characterization
Support Legs
Mild steel rods, 30 cm The performance and durability of the single slope solar still
8 height
are significantly influenced by the selection and
Water Input Port characterization of materials used in its construction. Each
Plastic funnel with
9 valve, 1/2 inch component was chosen based on thermal, mechanical, and
environmental suitability to ensure maximum efficiency and
Distillate Outlet
PVC tubing, 1/2 sustainability. Galvanized Iron (GI) Basin: The basin was
10 inch diameter constructed using GI sheet metal due to its good thermal
conductivity, corrosion resistance, and ease of fabrication.
The surface was coated with matte black paint to enhance
2.1.3. Fabrication:
The fabrication of the single slope solar still was solar energy absorption by increasing the absorptivity of the
carried out using readily available, cost-effective surface. Tempered Glass Cover: The transparent top cover is
materials to ensure ease of construction and field made of 5 mm thick tempered glass, which offers high
applicability. The basin was made from galvanized transmissivity for solar radiation and mechanical strength. Its
iron (GI) sheet metal, shaped into a shallow
rectangular tray and coated with matte black paint to inclined placement aids efficient condensation of vapor on
enhance solar absorption. Beneath the basin, a layer of the inner surface.
thermocol insulation was added to reduce heat losses,
and the entire unit was supported by a wooden frame
treated with waterproof coating for durability. After
assembly, the system was tested for leaks and
structural stability, ensuring it was ready for outdoor
experimentation. The final setup is a simple, efficient,
and eco-friendly solution for passive water
purification. The single slope solar still was fabricated
using simple and locally available materials to ensure
low cost and ease of construction. A galvanized iron
basin was painted black to absorb solar heat and
mounted over a thermocol-insulated wooden frame. A
The materials used in the construction of the solar
still were selected based on their thermal,
mechanical, and environmental properties.
Galvanized iron was chosen for the basin due to its
good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. d) L. Fernandez, M. Carballo, “Design and testing of eco-
The glass cover, made of tempered glass, offers high friendly solar still for rural water purification,”
solar transmittance and mechanical strength. Proceedings of International Conference on
Thermopolis insulation was used for its low thermal Environmental Sustainability, University of Lisbon,
conductivity, reducing heat loss. Silicone sealant was
Portugal, Jun 5-7, 2018.
applied for its durability and resistance to high
temperatures, ensuring airtight sealing. Each material
contributes to the overall efficiency and longevity of
the system. e) R. Patel, D. Bhatt, “Study of solar still productivity with
improved insulation materials,” Proceedings of National
CONCLUSION Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering,
Sirdar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology,
The single slope solar still offers a sustainable and
Surat, India, Dec 12-13, 2019.
environmentally friendly method for water
purification by harnessing solar energy. Its simple f) M. S. Khan, P. Kumar, “Performance evaluation of
construction using locally sourced materials makes it single slope solar still integrated with solar collector,”
affordable and accessible for remote and rural Proceedings of International Conference on Sustainable
Energy Solutions, Jamie Millie Islamic, New Delhi, India
communities. Experimental observations confirm that
the still efficiently produces distilled water with g) T. Sharma, A. Verme, “Energy and exergy analysis of
minimal energy input and no harmful emissions. solar still with blackened basin and insulation,”
While the current design performs well under average Proceedings of National Conference on Renewable
solar conditions, future improvements like enhanced Energy Applications, National Institute of Technology,
Jalandhar, India, Sep 17-18, 2017..
insulation or integration with phase change materials
could further boost its productivity. Overall, the solar h) V. R. Singh, S. Chandra, “Experimental study on eco-
still is a promising technology to help alleviate friendly solar still with improved condensation surface,”
freshwater shortages in an eco-conscious manner... Proceedings of International Conference on Water and
Environmental Engineering, Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi, India, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2016.
IV. REFERENCE
a) S. Kumar, R. Singh, P. Sharma, “Performance i) K. Joshi, M. Mehta, “Thermal performance of single
analysis of single slope solar still for water slope solar still using locally available materials,”
purification,” Proceedings of National Proceedings of National Conference on Advances in
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Ahmedabad, India, Oct 25-26, 2018.
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j) P. S. Desai, A. M. Patel, “Design and performance
evaluation of single slope solar still for potable water
production,” Proceedings of International Conference on
b) A.Patel,M. Joshi, “Experimental investigation of
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Energy Systems, Gujarat Technological
University, Ahmedabad, India, Feb 20-22, 2017.
c) N. R. Verme, S. K. Gupta, “Enhancement of
single slope solar still efficiency using wick and
black paint,” Proceedings of National
Conference on Water and Energy Conservation,
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India, Mar 10-
11, 2016.
