Solar Water Distillation



Posted: Sunday, June 06, 2010

by Ben Mester
Plan B Publishing

In my recent study of green technology, I've come across something very intriguing called the solar water distiller, which has also been called the solar still. As we all know, solar energy has been making a huge appearance in recent years, and along with it the solar water distiller has seemed to have gained a lot of popularity as well. But the solar water distiller isn't really a solar device, as most people think of solar. It does utilize the sun's energy, and thus can be called a solar device. But it doesn't turn that energy into usable electricity like most solar devices. Rather, it uses the sun's energy to heat and evaporate water, thus purifying and filtering it, and delivering relatively clean, drinkable water. I say relatively clean because solar water purification doesn't take away all the risk factors associated with drinking dirty water.

The solar water distiller, or solar still, really doesn't do anything more than trap and heat water, causing faster evaporation and by consequence condensation on the glass pane. After that, the water is collected in such a way that the water remains mostly pure as its transported to a large glass jug. speaking technically, it really isn't a solar water distillation device at all. It's more an evaporation device. The solar still's dimensions are generally around 5 feet long and two feet wide, and can be made of wood and glass, with jugs and silicone tubing - generally simple household items that have very little cost. But this is just a general dimension. There are many different sizes, even different solar water distiller designs. Some designs are clearly more complex than others, but they all rely on the same fundamental factor, which is sunlight.

Though the USA is going very quickly in the direction of green alternatives, in my opinion, the solar water distiller isn't really an applicable device for use here in America. It has a few drawbacks that generally cause a large concern. First off, the solar water distiller doesn't ever bring the water it collects to a boil, and therefore live bacteria and other hazards may still be present. Also, the solar water distiller has a difficult time retaining a good seal. Because of the large moist area it creates, the solar water distiller is often the target of insects and bacteria looking to exploit any weakness or opening in the seal.

That being said, however, the solar water distiller has great application for many third world countries. Having lived in a third world country myself (Cambodia) I know that fresh water can often be difficult to come by. During my stay in Southeast Asia, I would often drink the juice of unripe coconuts instead of the local water. The coconut provided a natural purification to the water, and the hard shell of the fruit kept the water preserved and pure. I'm intrigued by the idea of using solar water distillation in third world countries because the materials to construct them are very inexpensive, and simple distillers are easy to assemble. Not only that, but there are no moving parts to worry about, which makes it a handy little device.

I'd love to see the solar water distiller employed in any number of third world countries around the globe. A compelling statistic lists a lack of fresh and clean water as one of the top causes of death worldwide, and literally millions of people every year die from lack of pure, clean water. Plans to build solar water distillers are available all over the internet, and generally, one can find plans that only use common household items for the construction. If you're wanting to build your own solar water distiller for home use, I encourage you to check out some of the cautions associated with the solar still.

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I hope you liked this article on solar water distillation and water filtration. For more on water and its uses and purification, check out another article: homemade hydrogen generator.
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