Compact Heat-Recovery Strategies for Student-Built Solar Desalination Columns

Abstract

This investigation compares two low-cost heat-recovery loops integrated into a bench-scale solar still suitable for pre-college laboratory settings. The best-performing loop increased freshwater yield from 2.8 to 3.6 L/m²/day during matched irradiance windows and reduced startup transients by recapturing condenser waste heat. The paper includes uncertainty analysis for salinity sensors and practical fabrication notes for reproducibility in school workshops.

Figure 5 shows measured hourly yield and cumulative output for baseline and heat-recovery-enhanced prototypes.