Evaluating the effect of external and internal condensers on the productivity of solar stills: A review

As water scarcity rises, finding a sustainable alternative to water purification has become paramount. Therefore, solar stills are a convenient solution in drylands. However, the productivity of solar stills is relatively low, which limits their widespread use and has led to a significant amount of research to enhance water productivity. Numerous experimental and numerical investigations have been undertaken to investigate the effect of condensers on productivity. Incorporating external condensers and nanofluids results in a 50% increase in solar still efficiency. Implementing an internal heat sink condenser with black steel fibers leads to a 52% boost in daily productivity. Comparative studies on various modifications, including improved stepped solar still, showcase productivity enhancements ranging from 30% to 150%. Finally, integrating condensation components can reduce the cost of freshwater production and address the issue of low water productivity.