Motivation

About 1 billion people do not have access to potable water

Make use of the most abundant naturally replenished energy source

Parabolic reflective troughs are fundamentally simple and effective devices for concentrating and collecting solar energy

System Overview

Contaminated water enters an absorber tube (Pyrex glass cover, copper heat pipe) oriented at the focus of a parabolic reflective trough.

Heated water exits absorber tube and enters distiller via spray nozzle to increase surface area per droplet to enhance evaporation.

Remaining hot water pools and distiller then allows for further evaporation.

Vapor is condensed on a cooled condensing surface via heat exchanger oriented on the top of the distiller

Heat exchanger uses cool contaminated water flow to cool the condensing surface and preheat the incoming water

Condensed potable water drains out of distiller via gravity into a collection tube