Numerical Investigation of the Effects of Different Basin Materials of Single Slope Solar Water Still Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

The scarcity of clean drinking water remains a pressing global challenge, necessitating sustainable and efficient water desalination solutions. This study investigates the performance of single-slope solar water distillers using different basin materials {Copper (Cu), Aluminum (Al), and Galvanized Iron (GI)} through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations conducted via ANSYS FLUENT. The thermal properties of these materials significantly influenced distillation efficiency and water yield. Results indicate that distillers with copper basins achieved the highest daily distillate yield of 2.73 L/day and efficiency of 61.85%, followed by aluminum (2.61 L/day, 59.13%) then galvanized iron (2.56 L/day, 57.99%). Copper’s superior thermal conductivity and lower water depth facilitated to faster heating and evaporation, enhancing performance. These study showsthe potential of optimizing basin material selection to improve solar still productivity, making it a viable solution for water-scarce regions.