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A solar still is used to convert saline water into potable water by means of the distillation process. In order to improve the productivity of conventional solar still, various modifications are implemented by researchers. In the present study, multiple V-shaped floating wicks are used to enhance heat absorption and thereby increase productivity. The experiments are performed during the summer and winter seasons in Rewa, India (Latitude: 24.5373° N; Longitude: 81.3042° E). These multiple floating wicks are made from black jute cloth wrapped in V-shaped pieces of thermocol. Because of their V-shaped profile, the evaporative surface area of modified solar still is 26% larger than that of conventional solar still. The maximum daily productivity in one of the clear days is found to be approximately 6.20 kg/m 2 in summer and 3.23 kg/m 2 in winter with daily efficiencies of 56.62% and 47.75%, respectively. A theoretical thermal model is formulated by using the energy balance equations of the modified solar still. Reasonable agreement was seen between the theoretical and experimental results of modified solar still. An economic analysis is also performed for the modified solar still and conventional solar still; in a 10-year life cycle, the annual cost of distilled water is estimated at Rs. 1.81/kg for the former and Rs. 2.24/kg for the latter.

The rapid growth of development and urbanization in the Indian subcontinents has made the urban areas vulnerable to outdoor thermal discomfort (OTC) which is in turn affecting the quality of living in these areas. This study aims at evaluating spatiotemporal dynamics of outdoor thermal comfort in Nagpur city (India) during winter, summer and heat wave period using Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification. It uses Thom's Discomfort Index (DI) and Relative Strain Index (RSI) to analyze outdoor thermal comfort. It also examines the significance of major LCZs in addressing thermal anomaly and OTC at different time periods using One-way ANOVA technique. It identifies critical LCZ having a maximum exposure of discomfort and concludes with the applicability of LCZ for addressing discomfort.

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A theoretical and experimental study was conducted at the central Indian location of Rewa, M.P., India (Latitude: 24 °33 20.81 N, Longitude: 81 °18 49.1 E). This paper presents a detailed comparison of the theoretical and the experimental results obtained for a single sloped basin type solar still. Results for dif- ferent parameters such as basin water temperature, glass cover temperature, distillate output, evaporative, convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients and attenuation factor were obtained for basin water depths ranging from 2 cm to 10 cm. For solar still, daily distillate output decreased with increase in basin water depth. The theoretical value of daily efficiency for 2 cm and 10 cm basin water depth was around 52.83% and 41.75%, respectively, and for the same basin water depth, experimental daily efficiency was around 41.49% and 32.42% respectively. A sound agreement between the theoretical and the experimental results was observed.

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