Experimental Analysis of a Single Slope Solar Still with a Solar Pond

A solar basin still with the cross - section of 100 cm × 100 cm and an inclination of 11 o was fabricated and experimented at St. Mother Theresa Engineering College, Tuticorin, Tamilnadu, India, at (11.9310° N, 79.7852° E). In order to accelerate heat transfer the surface was painted dark black, the basin was provided with fins and a reflecting mirror was placed at the base surface. In addition, a solar-powered pond with a top surface area measuring 90 cm x 90 cm and a base surface area measuring 30 cm x 30 cm, equipped with fins at its base and the top of the pond is affixed with reflecting mirrors for storing more heat intensity inside the solar pond. The pond was sectioned into three layers based on the rate of heat transfer: Upper converting layer (UCL), Middle converting layer (MCL), and Lower converting layer (LCL). The primary investigation was carried out on January, February, and March 2023 and the readings were noted for eight hours a day on a regular basis. The lower converting layer experienced the high radiation strike of the sun during the day yielding the optimal output. This paper discusses the results of the experiments conducted on the solar still with a single basin that was connected to a solar-powered sectioned pond.