Use of multilevel channels and PCM Charcoal chunks in passive solar desalination basins to improve water productivity and desalination efficiency

This study analyzes the design of multilevel channels on the basin cover and charcoal lump PCM on the passive solar desalination basin. The multilevel channel on the basin cover aims to prevent the condensed steam from falling back into the basin due to the long water path to the water channel at the end of the basin cover. Charcoal chunks that function as PCM serve as an additional absorber to absorb heat on the water surface and the plate at the bottom of the basin. The study used three basins with the same basin area and materials. The basins are mono-channel basins (as control), long-channel basins (without cascade), and basins with cascade channels. The test results show that the basin with a cascade channel produces more desalinated water for each measurement from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, an average of 166.75mL per 30 minutes. It also provides high efficiency, reaching 30.28%, followed by mono channel basin and then long channel (without cascade) whose desalinated water production and efficiency are deficient, so these last two basins are not recommended for further development.