Experimental and numerical study of a solar still with external solar heating: comparing internal condensation and air-pump-assisted external condensation in prism structures

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a novel solar still system integrating external solar heating and condensation units, comparing its performance with traditional methods through experimental and numerical analyses to optimize clean water production and energy efficiency. Design/methodology/approach This study involved designing a novel solar still system with an external solar heating unit and a prism-type condensation chamber. Two configurations were tested experimentally: one with internal condensation inside the prism and another with an air pump extracting vapor for external condensation. computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted to analyze temperature distributions and airflow dynamics in the system. Energy and exergy analyses were performed to evaluate the thermal performance and efficiency of both configurations, comparing clean water production rates and system effectiveness. Findings This study found that the solar still system using an air pump with external condensation significantly enhanced water production, achieving approximately 144.7% more clean water compared to the internal condensation method. Scenario 2, with the external condensation configuration, demonstrated a slight improvement in thermal efficiency (12.84%) over Scenario 1 (12.36%) and higher exergy efficiency (5.86% compared to 4.83%). CFD simulations provided insights into the temperature and air velocity distributions, highlighting the effectiveness of the external heating and condensation setup. The results demonstrate the potential of the novel system to improve clean water production while maintaining energy efficiency. Originality/value This study introduces a novel solar still design that integrates an external solar heating unit and an air pump-driven external condensation system, demonstrating a significant improvement in clean water production. By combining experimental results, CFD simulations and energy-exergy analyses, it provides valuable insights for optimizing solar-powered desalination systems with enhanced efficiency and sustainability.