Solar Distillation Project :)

[simontay78]

I had just started recently a solar distillation project and hope to achieve maximum water distillation using solar power.

It's a combination of both solar heat and solar panel to work but I have not test the set up yet since it's incomplete at the moment.

I will modify it as time goes to whatever I can get hold of.




I will update my blog on this project and I welcome any suggestions on how I can improve on the setup :)

Thanks!!

[mike95490]

I think using a large Fresnel lens is overkill, just a long trough, with water and a glass cover, and a drip ledge should work really good.
examples:
http://www.solaqua.com/solstilbas.html
http://www.watercone.com/product.html

[simontay78]

I build this because in Singapore where almost 90% of the 6 million people don't own landed property that have their own sunny garden means we can't be baking water under the hot sun for a long period of time.

Most of us live in HDB Flats/Apartments or Condominium such as the photo below.


This is why we need to have a fast solar distillation instead of a long term ones.

For my own website that study future crisis, fresh distill water will be a very precious commodity in the near future when drinkable water becomes hard to find.

...a deadly event in a highly populated small country.

[BB.]

Are you trying to distill salt/brackish water or just removing pathogens?

Getting water above the 6th floor without building power is not going to happen (plus, the problems with diseases from unpressurized pipes). \

So, you would need a consistent source of water (and space) to set everything up.

-Bill

[mike95490]

You are missing the big picture, with a lens, you are limited to the 50sq inches it collects, and that turns into a smallish, high temp spot, that will need to be refocused every couple of minutes. The high temps lead to baked on deposits that are hard to remove from the "boiler". The system "losses" with high temps are much higher too, and you may find your overall efficiency is lower, than if you used a low temp still. The low temp stills are pretty easy to clean, and maintain. Your copper condenser, better make that with lead-free solder. it will likely be more useful as a moonshine still.

And if you solve your water problem, there is still food to worry about a week later.


_____
Soylent Green - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

[BB.]

Note to all current and new users.

The forum rules have been updated regarding posts that point to personal websites/blogs:

Updated March 10 2009.

1. No commercial ads. No solicitations or advertisements. No links to our competitors for items or products that we sell (If we don't carry it, no problem).
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SimonTay and others--

Your subject matter is fine for discussion here... And the fact that you came back to continue the discussion is great.

However, everyone please note, [edit: first time posters] posting links to personal websites with requests for discussion/postings off this forum will be edited/deleted and first time posters may be banned.

Also links to sites that have lots of generic content (RSS News Feeds) and appear to be link farms (lots of ads)--will also be removed.

New posters (and the old-timers too ) are always very welcomed here... Please feel free to ask questions and participate on the discussions here on the Wind-Sun forums.

Thank you,
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[BB.]

Just an update to the above wording... First time posters that create threads with links to personal website with link farms---please avoid doing this.

Others posters have posted links during discussions to personal and other forums/sites with useful information (Solar Guppy's, Other Power, Home Power Mag, and the nice link to a first time poster's Stockoneder's Xantrex XW installation with pictures, etc.).

I am sorry, I am just trying to figure out the correct wording to encourage forum users to post relevant information/links/etc. at NAWS' forum.

No large changes were intended (by me anyway)--just a clarification of what (I believe) would like to avoid.

Sincerely and sorry for any confusion, I am sure Niel and WindSun will help keep me on track.
-Bill

[simontay78]

Thanks for your clarification on the matter on the link farms.

My sites are not link farms as I write news reviews on individual news that is interesting to my research on energy crisis.

I never RSS feed other people's websites to put in my blog....I read their blog or news and comment on their articles.

My project is my own way to solve future crisis.

Ans to mike90045: I had done another project on indoor aquaponic growth system to grow indoor food and it's my blog as well...(dare not post link so refer to my first post and click on 'my project')

Thanks!

Regards,
Simon Tay

[simontay78]

Are you trying to distill salt/brackish water or just removing pathogens?

Getting water above the 6th floor without building power is not going to happen (plus, the problems with diseases from unpressurized pipes). \

So, you would need a consistent source of water (and space) to set everything up.

-Bill

The idea is to go downstairs to the field for 1 hour of extreme solar distillation and then go back up carrying a water dispenser box filled with freshly made distill water.

Instant water I guess...but I know it's not going to be accepted easily...my version of the future is not a peaceful one...everyone will be begging outside for water, food, money....without jobs...world will be a nasty world.

[simontay78]

You are missing the big picture, with a lens, you are limited to the 50sq inches it collects, and that turns into a smallish, high temp spot, that will need to be refocused every couple of minutes. The high temps lead to baked on deposits that are hard to remove from the "boiler". The system "losses" with high temps are much higher too, and you may find your overall efficiency is lower, than if you used a low temp still. The low temp stills are pretty easy to clean, and maintain. Your copper condenser, better make that with lead-free solder. it will likely be more useful as a moonshine still.

And if you solve your water problem, there is still food to worry about a week later.

Soylent Green - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

I will have to adjust the focal lens slightly further to enlarge the high temp spot to cover the whole flying pan to heat it to a point where water will be fried instantly.

I will then drip the water in slowly.

The steam created will be sucked into the pipe by a solar powered fan.

As per previous post...food I had started indoor aquaponic growth system