Cost optimization studies on a multi-stage stacked tray solar still

In the present paper a techno-economic analysis of a multi-stage stacked tray (MSST) solar still coupled with a solar collector has been developed. The thermal model developed earlier by the authors for predicting the system performance has been used here also; the model considers transient heat and mass transfer processes within the solar still. The economic analysis is based on the life-cycle costing of the system, taking into account the capital and maintenance costs of the system for estimating the cost of unit mass of distilled water. The techno-economic analysis presented shows that the system parameters need to be optimized, resulting in the minimum cost of distilled water. As an illustration, results of numerical calculations for the climate of Delhi, India, are presented in the paper.