The simplest configuration is implemented in the solar still, evaporating the sea water inside a glass covered box and condensing the water vapor on the lower side of the glass cover but not below the unevaporated seawater.
More sophisticated designs separate the solar heat gain section from the evaporation-condensation chamber.
[citation needed] The method can be optimized by using various effects in the categories of thermal energy collection and storage for continued nocturnal operation, choice of site location, various evaporation effects, as well as condensator design and provision of cooling energy to harvest distillate from the moist air.
[citation needed] There are successful small-scale agricultural experimentation done in arid regions such as Israel, West Africa, and Peru.
The major difficulty lies in effectively concentrating the energy of sun on a small area to speed up evaporation.