Published Online:February 2026
Product Name:The IUP Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJME030126
DOI:10.71329/IUPJMECH/2026.19.1.65-74
Author Name:S Mugesh, B Avinash, N Suganthan, N Manitharan, P Velmurugan and S Saravanan
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Engineering
Download Format:PDF
Pages:65-74
The paper fabricates and tests a conventional solar still (CSS) equipped with plain vertical mild steel fins to assess its thermal and distillation performance. The aim was to improve the water yield by increasing the heat transfer surface area in the basin. The performance was evaluated by monitoring solar radiation intensity, absorber plate temperature, basin water temperature, inner glass surface temperature, and the amount of distillate collected. The solar intensity ranged from 140.5 W/m² in the morning to a peak of 244.9 W/m² at noon. The maximum temperatures recorded were 65.1 C (absorber), 63.2 C (water), and 61.6 C (glass). The use of fins enhanced thermal absorption and heat distribution, resulting in improved water evaporation. A daily average water yield of 1.75 L/m² was achieved, representing a 25% increase compared to a conventional solar still. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of fin integration as a cost-efficient method for enhancing solar still efficiency in rural and off-grid applications.
Freshwater scarcity is a growing concern globally, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where natural freshwater sources are limited (Morante-Carballo et al., 2022).