Increasing the Efficiency of the Solar Distillation Device Using Controlled, Concentrated Magnifying Lenses

Abstract

The study examines the efficiency of the solar distillation basin that operates on the principle of a thermal cooking mechanism, for a basin in standard dimensions (860 × 520 × 50), tilted to one side at an angle of 15º. The sun's rays were focused using a zoom lens with a diameter of 8 cm, with the sun's rays being tracked through a control system for the purpose of increase focusing it's at the specific location within the distillation basin. The control system consists of a low-cost electronic controller with accessories (direct current motors and structure with flexible joints) that allows the movement of parts to track the path of the sun's rays falling on the lens during the day and every day in the year after programming it by determining the movement path of the sun. After practical experiments with the distillation basin, which contains a control system that controls the location of the lens to focus rays into the basin for the four seasons of the year, with radiation intensity ranging between (0-980) w/m2. The results showed an increase in the amount of distilled water by 4% during the winter and 6% during the Spring and autumn, and 8% during the summer when compared with the same distillation basin but without the lens control system.