STRUCTURE AND EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF A SOLAR-POWERED WATER DESALINATION SYSTEM ENHANCED WITH REFLECTORS

• Date: 2026
• Main Authors: Tursunov , M., Sabirov , Kh., Akhtamov , T., Abriyev , Sh., Yuldoshov, B., Khaliyarov, J., Jamilov , Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Renewable Energy National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 2026
• Subjects: solar radiation; solar cell array; reflector; heat collector; cooling system; conventional solar still.
• Online Access: https://ve.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/637
• Journal Title: Vidnovluvana energetika

This study presents the structural design and experimental evaluation of a portable water desalination system equipped with crystalline solar cells serving as a photothermal absorber, and enhanced with lateral and bottom reflectors. Experiments were conducted under real open-sky conditions in Tashkent during the spring and summer seasons of 2025. The use of reflectors increased the solar radiation flux incident on the heat collector surface by 40–60%, reaching values exceeding 1500–1550 W/m² in the full-reflector configuration. As a result, the maximum working water temperature rose to 90–95°C, significantly accelerating the evaporation and condensation processes. Consequently, the overall thermal efficiency of the system increased to 55–65%, while the hourly and daily freshwater productivity improved by 45–50% and 35–40%, respectively.