A conceptual framework for rational design and fabrication of solar still water desalination units- Elucidating the trade-offs and negative parameters: A review

Author Identifier

Mehdi Khiadani: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1703-9342

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Separation and Purification Technology

Volume

376

Publisher

Elsevier

School

School of Engineering

Comments

Parsa, S. M., Khiadani, M., Samimi, H., Shoeibi, S., Mirjalily, S. A. A., Nazari, S., & Kargarsharifabad, H. (2025). A conceptual framework for rational design and fabrication of solar still water desalination units-Elucidating the trade-offs and negative parameters: A review. Separation and Purification Technology, 376, 133970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133970

Abstract

Fabrication of high-performance small-scale solar still systems to provide safe drinking water was the cornerstone of a colossal number researches over past decades. To reach this goal, a wide range of internal and external approaches has been adopted. These approaches categorized as those related to the internal parameters of solar stills like geometrical improvements or operational parameters regulation to external modifications approaches such as integration with various solar collectors, reflectors, condensers or utilizing different types of materials such as nanoparticles, wicks, phase change materials, biomaterials just to name a few. However, these modifications were not always results in improvement of solar stills. Indeed, in many cases they negatively impacted the performance of solar stills. Therefore, in this review, for the first time, we discuss on all operational parameters as well as all external modifications approaches that results in negative effect on the performance of solar stills. Indeed, the core of this review is to highlight, if the integration and modification of solar stills through not carefully consider in the conceptual stage of fabrication as well as during the experiment it may act as the negative effect. The reasons behind the negativity of parameters were comprehensively discussed while possible solutions for managing trade-offs highlighted. Eventually, a conceptual framework for design and fabrication of solar still units as well as conducting experiments, by considering the previous practices were suggested.

DOI

10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133970

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133970