Solar still is a cost-effective and environment-friendly device to convert saline water into potable by employing solar energy in developing countries; however, it has an inferior thermal performance. This paper presents an attempt to improve energy efficiency and productivity of solar still by improving the design of the absorber plate. Modified solar still has been tested with a stepped-corrugated absorber plate. During the experimentation, it is found that the thermal performance of modified solar still is superior to conventional solar still. The average basin saline water temperature and the temperature difference between saline water and condenser glass cover are higher for stepped-corrugated solar still by 19.67 and 105.75%, respectively, as compared with conventional solar still. The average energy efficiency, exergy efficiency and productivity are found to be 259.61, 418.61 and 147.93% higher for stepped-corrugated solar still. Economic analysis indicates that the cost of distil water production is approximately Rs. 1.73 (0.023 $) per litre, and the payback period is 12 months, with carbon credits earned are approximately Rs. 11,998 (157.76 $).
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