Fresh Water Production Using Tubular Solar Still System: Sustainable Energy

Freshwater scarcity is a growing global challenge due to population growth, industrialization, pollution, and climate change. Although nearly 97% of the Earth’s water is saline, only a small fraction is available as potable water. Desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis and multi-stage flash distillation are effective but energy-intensive, costly, and often unsuitable for rural or remote areas. In this context, solar desalination emerges as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution. Among various solar desalination techniques, the tubular solar still (TSS) has gained significant attention due to its simple construction, improved productivity, and ability to operate using renewable solar energy. A tubular solar still is a modified solar still design that enhances evaporation and condensation processes by using a cylindrical or tubular transparent cover instead of the conventional flat glass cover. This design improves solar radiation absorption, reduces heat losses, and increases freshwater yield. The tubular solar still is a promising solar desalination system that offers improved performance over conventional solar still designs.