Self cleaning,tubular solar still

Abstract

Abstract A SOLAR STILL IS DESCRIBED IN WHICH A VERTICAL MICROPOROUS EVAPORATOR HAVING A DARK OUTER SURFACE IS HOUSED WITHIN BUT SEPARATED FROM A TRANSPARENT TUBE. IMPURE OR SALT WATER IS FEED UP THE POROUS EVAPORATOR EITHER BY MECHANICAL MEANS OR BY CAPILLARY FORCES FROM A RESERVOIR AT THE TUBE BASE. SUNLIGHT IMPINGING ON THE INNER DARK TUBE CAUSES WATER TO EVAPORATE THEREFROM. THE VAPOR SUBSEQUENTLY CONDENSES ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE TRANSPARENT TUBE AND RUS DOWN TO A COLLECTING RING AT THE BASE THEREOF. CONCENTRATION EFFECTS CAUSE CONCENTRATED IMPURITIES TO FLOW DOWN THE POROUS EVAPORATOR SO THAT ITS SURFACE PORES DO NOT BECOME THE POROUS EVAPORATOR SO THA OUTER TUBE MAY BE GLASS OR PLASTIC. ITS INNER SURFACE MAY BE TREATED TO CAUSE THE CONDENSED WATER TO RUN DOWN AS A SHEET RATHER THAN COLLECT AS DROPS. REFLECTORS OR OTHER LIGHT DIRECTING MEANS MAY BE PLACED ABOUT THE TUBE TO GATHER AND CONCENTRATE THE SOLAR RADIATION REACHING THE 19DARK TUBE. IN THE ALTERNATE DESIGN, IMPURE WATER IS FED TO THE TOP OF THE POROUS EVAPORATOR.

Inventors

• 👤 J Coffey
• 👤 J Duddy

Bibliographic Details