One step azimuth tracking tilted-wick solar still with a vertical flat plate reflector

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of a one step azimuth tracking tilted-wick solar still with a vertical flat plate reflector. The still is assumed to be rotated manually just once a day at southing of the sun. We performed numerical analysis of heat and mass transfer in the still to determine the distillate productivity of the still on four typical days: the spring and autumn equinox and summer and winter solstice days at 30°N latitude. We theoretically determined the optimum tilt angle of the still and the optimum orientation of the still on these four days. We also found that the increase in the daily amount of distillate of a tilted-wick still would average about 41% for four days, and can be achieved by the simple modification of using a flat plate reflector, setting the still at proper tilt angle according to seasons and rotating the still just once a day.