Transformation of salty seawater into fresh water by the aid of solar energy is one of the solutions for overcoming the lack of these waters with an eco-friendly procedure. The use of solar stills is one of the solutions that use solar energy with a simple design to produce fresh water in small to moderate amounts. Hemispherical solar stills are one kind of still design that does not require a particle rotational orientation, and they have proved to be more efficient than traditional designs. Solar stills generally possess a low thermal efficiency, with limitations of working hours, i.e., only daytime. To overcome these problems, rocks placed in the saline water basin are used as heat storage materials to increase the working period of the design. In the present work, different amounts of river rocks are utilized to study the effect of this addition experimentally. Steady state tests are conducted to study the influence of these additive rocks on the enhancement of solar energy absorption, since increased working time is assured by published research. Two volumes of rocks (300 mL and 600 mL) were tested, and both increased water productivity, by 52% and 58%, respectively. The increases are explained by the increases in solar energy absorption, since steady state cases were used.

Supersonic flow over a half-angle wedge (θ = 15°) with an upstream Mach number of 2.0 was investigated using 2D Euler equations where sea level conditions were considered. The investigation employed the Steger–Warming flux vector splitting (FVS) method executed in MATLAB 9.13.0 (R2022b) software. The study involved a meticulous comparison between theoretical calculations and numerical results. Particularly, the research emphasized the angle of oblique shock and downstream flow properties. A substantial iteration count of 2000 iteratively refined the outcomes, underscoring the role of advanced computational resources. Validation and comparative assessment were conducted to elucidate the superiority of the Steger–Warming flux vector splitting (FVS) scheme over existing methodologies. This research serves as a link between theoretical rigor and practical applications in high-speed aerospace design, enhancing the efficiency of aircraft components.

In recent years, biomass utilization has significantly increased, presenting challenges in its incorporation into various systems. Effective handling requires reliable data on biomass flow properties for designing warehouses and processing equipment. This study investigates the physical properties of ground barley grains, ground oak leaves, ground straw, and cut jute. Barley grains, oak leaves, and straw bales were milled, and jute was cut into 2–3 mm lengths and oven-dried. Particle size distribution, bulk density, Hausner ratio, Carr’s index, moisture content, static angle of repose, and flowability tests and SEM analysis were conducted. The study found that ground barley, having the smallest particle size and highest bulk density, showed superior flow properties due to its rounded particles and clusters, as reflected by a low Hausner ratio. In contrast, jute fibers had a low bulk density and poor flowability, while ground straw exhibited hindered flow due to its larger, more irregular particles. Additionally, the biomass sliding behavior varied with particle size and surface irregularities, with ground barley adhering well to plywood and ground oak leaves adhering well to aluminum. These findings underscore the pivotal roles of particle shape and interparticle forces in determining the biomass flow properties, pointing towards a future where precise environmental control and advanced analytical methods drive innovations in biomass utilization.