Performance of Various Wick Materials (Cotton, Jute, Wool, Polyester, Terri Cot) in Inclined Slope Solar Still

Abstract

In this work the effect of different wick materials on the distillate output produced by inclined wick solar still has been experimentally investigated. The wick materials considered are cotton cloth, jute cloth, wool cloth, polyester and terrycloth. Wicking properties of materials such as porosity and capillary rise of water has been experimentally determined. Porosity is maximum 27.9% for cotton wick and minimum 18.9% for jute wick. The rise of water (capillary rise) for cotton wick is 120mm/h. The daily distillate output for solar still containing different wick materials have been experimentally determined in the climate of Raipur, Chattisgarh, India. The daily distillate output produced is maximum 4.321L/m² for cotton wick material and minimum 3.156L/m² for polyester wick material. The use of cotton wick in solar still is found economical and reliable.