Solaris 2019–India Renewable Energy and Sustainable Climate 7-9 Feb 2019 Performance analysis of single slope solar still augmented with the roller and belt conveyor Manoj Dubey, Kunal, Prajal Jain, Prince Kumar, Shivam Vats, Dhananjay R. Mishra * Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, Guna-473226, M.P. India * Corresponding author. Tel: Tel: +919893808251, E-mail: drm30680@yahoo.com Abstract In this research paper, an attempt has been made to analyze the single basin single slope solar still (SBSSSS) fitted with a slow-moving black conveyor belt. Modification improves the distillate output through improvement in view factor, evaporation through thin film and reduction in characteristic length. The experiment is conducted in summer climatic condition of Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, Guna (24.483˚ N, 77.16˚ E), India, in the month of April. A 0.9 m wide black cotton belt conveyor moving at a speed of 0.25 m/min is used in SBSSSS having 1 m 2 basin area to increase the surface area. The belt conveyor in the still has been driven by the geared head ac induction motor. The motor was connected to pulley drive which is used to rotate the shaft of the belt conveyor so as to attain the desired belt speed. The belt carried the water by capillary action from the basin thus, increasing surface area for evaporation. The belt being parallel as well as closer to the condensing cover has resulted in better absorption of solar radiation and reduced the characteristic distance of vapor transportation. Experimental results are compared with theoretical distillate output calculated using Kumar and Tiwari model. The still produced maximum hourly output of 0.32 l/h and 2.42 l of fresh water during 24 h. Keywords: Belt conveyor, distillate output, fresh water, Nomenclature A area....................................................... m 2 C constant in Nusselt number expression d thermal diffusivity............................... m 2 /s F shape factor F c convective energy fraction F r radiative energy fraction F e evaporative energy fraction Gr Grashoff number g gravitational constant.. ....................... m/s 2 h heat transfer coefficient.. ............... W/m 2 K I(t) s Intensity of solar radiation on inclined glass cover surface of solar still........ W/ m 2 k thermal conductivity ........................ W/mK L latent heat of vaporization of water.... kJ/kg m ew hourly yield from solar still............. kg/m 2 h Nu Nusselt number N constant in Nusselt number expression P saturation vapor-pressure.................. N/m 2 Pr Prandtl number Q convective heat transfer rate.. ............ W/m 2 Ra Rayliegh number t time.. ....................................................... s T temperature.. ......................................... ºC Greek β coefficient of volumetric expansion coefficient.. .......................................... 1/K  emissivity .......................................... m 2 s -3 θ inclination of glass cover with horizontal α absorptivity α’ fractional solar flux absorbed  density .............................................. kg/m 3  viscosity........................................... N s/m 2 σ Stefan–Boltzmann constant.. .......... W/m 2 K 4 η thermal efficiency Subscripts a air or ambient b basin liner c convective e evaporative eff effective g glass cover ci glass cover inner surface co glass cover outer surface r radiative t total w water mass on belt surface