Enhancing the stepped solar still performance using internal reflectors

This paper presents a modification of stepped solar still through internal reflectors. A comparison study between modified stepped solar still with trays (5 mm depth × 120 mm width) and conventional solar still was carried out to evaluate the developed desalination system performance under the same climate conditions. The effect of installing a reflecting mirror on the vertical sides of the steps of stepped still on the distillate productivity was investigated. An experimental as well as theoretical investigation is carried out. The results indicate that, during experimentation the productivity of the modified stepped solar still with and without internal reflectors is higher than that for conventional still approximately by 75% and 57%, respectively. Also the daily efficiency for modified stepped still with and without internal reflectors and conventional solar still is approximately 56%, 53% and 34%, respectively.

► The performance of a modified stepped solar still with mirrors added was investigated.
► The productivity of modified stepped solar still with reflectors is higher than that for conventional still by 75%.
► The daily efficiency of modified stepped with internal reflectors and conventional solar stills is approximately 56% and 34% respectively.