A NUMERICAL-MODEL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION FOR A SOLAR-STILL INCLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN ABIDJAN (COTE-DIVOIRE)

A solar distillation in a single basin is studied theoretically and ex perimentally. We present a mathematical model to describe the energy b alances for the glass cover, water in the basin and base plate. The mo del neglects the thermal capacity of the base plate and the temperatur e gradient through the width of the glass. The energy equations for th e glass, water and absorber are simultaneously solved. The effects of water depth, wind speed and glass cover thickness on still productivit y are evaluated. The daily total production increases with decreasing water depth. A small increasing of productivity occurs with the increa se of wind speed. The thickness of the glass cover has no effect on th e production. An experiment has been conducted to validate the mathema tical model. The relative difference between experiment and theory is 5% for temperatures, and 15% for productivity. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.