Performance Improvements of Hemispherical Solar Still Using Internal Reflector: Energy and Exergy Analysis

Abstract Various scientists are looking for effective and easy solutions for augmentation of yield from the Hemispherical Solar Still (HSS). In this study, aluminium foil-sheet was used to reflect the intensity hence augments the evaporation rate and daily yield. Experimentations were conducted on two SS: the first SS is HSS; the second SS is HSS with reflective aluminium foil-sheet walls (HSS-RAFW). The highest distilled water production from the HSS, HSS-RAFW are 3.36 and 4.1 kg/m2, respectively. Compared to the HSS, the yield of distilled water was augmented by 22.21% when using the HSS- RAFW. The daily energy and exergy efficiency (EnE and ExE) of the HSS is 26.27 and 1.04%, respectively and daily EnE and ExE of the HSS-RAFW is 32.75 and 1.71%, respectively.