Comparative Analysis of Solar Still Types for Enhanced Freshwater Production: a Multi-Criteria Decision Method Approach

• Published in: Process integration and optimization for sustainability 2024-07, Vol.8 (3), p.613-629
• Main Authors: El Hafid, Wafae, Abderafi, Souad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Brackish water; Comparative analysis; Cost analysis; Desalination; Drinking water; Economic development; Economics; Economics and Management; Energy consumption; Energy Policy; Engineering; Environmental impact; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Literature reviews; Multiple criterion; Performance evaluation; Population growth; Productivity; Renewable resources; Review Article; Seawater; Sensitivity analysis; Solar energy; Solar stills; Sustainable Development; Thermal energy; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Water purification; Water scarcity; Water shortages
• ISSN: 2509-4238; 2509-4246
• DOI: 10.1007/s41660-023-00385-0

Water scarcity is increasing day by day due to population growth, economic development, and environmental pollution. Solar stills present a promising technical solution for purifying water. However, the problem lies in the appropriate choice of the solar still type for the desalination unit, aiming for high productivity and low cost. The objective of this work is to compare five geometrical types of passive solar stills to determine the most suitable and efficient one for freshwater production. First, five solar still geometries were selected based on a literature review. The comparison of these five technologies was conducted using the multi-criteria decision method (MCDM), specifically the TOPSIS method. To achieve this, six technical and economic sub-criteria were taken into account. The preference weights for these sub-criteria were calculated using entropy as the objective method. The results indicate that the cascade solar still ranks first among the other technologies, with a closeness coefficient CC i value of 0.74, followed by the pyramid solar still with a value of 0.56. These results were validated through sensitivity analysis, with a probability of 67% for the cascade solar still and 33% for the pyramid solar still. This analysis allowed us to select the cascade solar still as an efficient solution for freshwater production when compared to other types.