Experimental Evaluation of Hemispherical Solar Still Performance Using Aluminum and Galvanized Steel Floral Ring Inserts

This study explores the performance enhancement of hemispherical solar stills by incorporating basin inserts made from galvanized steel and aluminum, both used as sensible heat storage materials. The aim is to compare the effects of these materials on the efficiency of the distillation process. The experimental setup maintains a consistent geometry, integrating aluminum floral ring inserts (AFRI) and galvanized steel floral ring inserts (GSFRI) to optimize heat retention and utilization. Our results demonstrate a 20% increase in distillate water production for solar stills equipped with AFRI compared to conventional Hemispherical Solar Still (CHSS), with an average yield of 8 kg/m2/day. The configuration using AFRI achieved an efficiency of 12.75%, highlighting the practical feasibility of this approach for sustainable water purification. Furthermore, the AFRI outperformed the GSFRI in both distillation efficiency and overall water output, emphasizing the significance of material selection in optimizing solar still performance.