Experimental study of the effect of using absorbent fabrics on the performance of stepped solar still

Population growth and freshwater scarcity have led people to think about renewable energy sources. In this research, a stepped solar still has been used to produce drinking water. In order to improve the device's performance, absorbent fabrics were utilised to increase the heat transfer area between the saline water and the environment, resulting in increased evaporation and fresh water production. Water inlet flow rate, fabric material, fabric thickness or number of layers, fabric colour, and fabric placement angle are all variables that have been used at the same time. Three different fabrics in three different layers were used in the experiments, with flow rates of 50, 100, and 150 ml/min and angles of 30, 60, and 90 degrees. There were also three colours for fabrics: white, brown, and black. The response level approach was used for the design of the experiments in this study, and 27 experiments were examined. The findings revealed that the black color, material # 1 with the highest water absorption, more layers, larger angles of fabrics, and lowering the flow rate all had an effect on increasing the amount of fresh water produced.