The device could aid people lacking drinking water and those affected by natural disasters
You’ve seen Bear Grylls turn foul water into drinking water with little more than sunlight and plastic.
Now, academics have added a third element — carbon-dipped paper — that may turn this survival tactic into a highly efficient and inexpensive way to turn saltwater and contaminated water into potable water for personal use.
The idea, which could help address global drinking water shortages, especially in developing areas and regions affected by natural disasters, is described in a study published online today (Jan. 30, 2017) in the journal Global Challenges.
“Using extremely low-cost materials, we have been able to create a system that makes near maximum use of the solar energy during evaporation. At the same time, we are minimizing the amount of heat loss during this process,” says lead researcher Qiaoqiang Gan, PhD, associate professor of electrical engineering in the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Additional members of the research team are from UB’s Department of Chemistry, Fudan University in China, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the lab of Gan, who is a member of UB’s New York State Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics and UB’s RENEW Institute, an interdisciplinary institute dedicated to solving complex environmental problems.
Solar vapor generator
To conduct the research, the team built a small-scale solar still. The device, which they call a “solar vapor generator,” cleans or desalinates water by using the heat converted from sunlight. Here’s how it works: The sun evaporates the water. During this process, salt, bacteria or other unwanted elements are left behind as the liquid moves into a gaseous state. The water vapor then cools and returns to a liquid state, where it is collected in a separate container without the salt or contaminants.
“People lacking adequate drinking water have employed solar stills for years, however, these devices are inefficient,” says Haomin Song, PhD candidate at UB and one of the study’s leading co-authors. “For example, many devices lose valuable heat energy due to heating the bulk liquid during the evaporation process. Meanwhile, systems that require optical concentrators, such as mirrors and lenses, to concentrate the sunlight are costly.”
The UB-led research team addressed these issues by creating a solar still about the size of mini-refrigerator. It’s made of expanded polystyrene foam (a common plastic that acts as a thermal insulator and, if needed, a flotation device) and porous paper coated in carbon black. Like a napkin, the paper absorbs water, while the carbon black absorbs sunlight and transforms the solar energy into heat used during evaporation.
The solar still coverts water to vapor very efficiently. For example, only 12 percent of the available energy was lost during the evaporation process, a rate the research team believes is unprecedented. The accomplishment is made possible, in part, because the device converts only surface water, which evaporated at 44 degrees Celsius.
Efficient and inexpensive
Based upon test results, researchers believe the still is capable of producing 3 to 10 liters of water per day, which is an improvement over most commercial solar stills of similar size that produce 1 to 5 liters per day.
Materials for the new solar still cost roughly $1.60 per square meter — a number that could decline if the materials were purchased in bulk. (By contrast, systems that use optical concentrators can retail for more than $200 per square meter.) If commercialized, the device’s retail price could ultimately reduce a huge projected funding gap — $26 trillion worldwide between 2010 and 2030, according to the World Economic Forum — needed for water infrastructure upgrades.
“The solar still we are developing would be ideal for small communities, allowing people to generate their own drinking water much like they generate their own power via solar panels on their house roof,” says Zhejun Liu, a visiting scholar at UB, PhD candidate at Fudan University and one the study’s co-authors.
Learn more: Academics build ultimate solar-powered water purifier
[osd_subscribe categories=’water-purification’ placeholder=’Email Address’ button_text=’Subscribe Now for any new posts on the topic “WATER PURIFICATION”‘]
Receive an email update when we add a new WATER PURIFICATION article.
The Latest on: Solar-powered water purifier
[google_news title=”” keyword=”solar-powered water purifier” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Solar-powered water purifier
- HUBER+SUHNER breaks ground on new POLATIS® optical circuit switch production siteon May 1, 2024 at 10:06 pm
HUBER+SUHNER AG / Key word (s): Miscellaneous HUBER+SUHNER breaks ground on new POLATIS® optical circuit switch production site 02.05.2024 / 06:45 CET/CEST ...
- Wave of innovation aims to make desalination sustainableon May 1, 2024 at 6:06 pm
But Gasson says the availability of low-cost solar power is driving a ... million to support the XPrize Water Scarcity competition. The main focuses of innovation, Gasson says, are new materials for ...
- How Long Do Water Heaters Last?on May 1, 2024 at 2:03 pm
A water heater is an essential home appliance. Learn the signs of an aging water heater and maintenance tips to prolong its life.
- Top 5 Robotic Pool Cleaners for a Sparkling Clean This Summeron April 27, 2024 at 1:08 am
As summer beckons, the allure of a crystal-clear swimming pool becomes irresistible. Yet, the task of maintaining such pristine waters can be daunting without ...
- A look at freshwater usage in solar manufacturingon April 26, 2024 at 4:00 am
With solar power becoming more economical, quick to deploy and zero-emissions, it’s quickly emerged as a winner in the energy transition. As a result, ...
- Where Is Everybody in Our Universe?on April 25, 2024 at 9:33 am
In Exoplanets, astronomer Michael Summers and physicist James Trefil explore remarkable recent discoveries: planets revolving around pulsars, planets made of diamond, planets that are mostly water, ...
- I'm Still Surprised by the Benefits and Struggles of Life Off-Gridon April 20, 2024 at 9:00 am
The pros and cons of taking responsibility for your own energy and water aren't what I expected before making the move to living an off-grid lifestyle.
- Shaping the Solar Panel Industry Future: Innovations to Comeon April 18, 2024 at 1:45 am
Solar panels have long become one of the most beloved energy sources among green enthusiasts people willing to cut their energy bills and those fighting climate change That said as ...
- Ask Angi: Is a solar pool water heater a good idea?on December 19, 2023 at 10:25 pm
After all, the most efficient heater available to us, the sun, is keeping the water warm at all times ... while you’ll spend from $1,400 to $4,800 per year to power a natural gas heater, solar heaters ...
via Bing News