My Solar Water Distiller Plan!

[Fieldz]

Yea, i just had an idea. I think this is the perfect solar distiller as you can easily build it with some household items. I know the paint is horrible but you can understand it.

Materials:
1 Black Spray Can
2 Plastic Bottles with the screws.
1 Plastic Tube which is atleast a bit flexible and, if possible, incolor.
A piece of plastic/wood or anything which lets one of the bottles higher than the other.
Duct Tape
Water ( )

One of the bottles is painted black because this way it gets hotter MUCH faster. You are the one which is going to choose if you want to do that or not, but i highly recommend it. The water that is on the other bottle is 100% Pure.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/solarwaterdistiller.png

-------------------------------------------------------------------UPDATE------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Distiller is working really well. I can get 250 Mls on REALLY sunny days, which is perfect for me.

 

[Fieldz]

UP

 

[Av8tor1]

Fieldz, you will find it will work better if you increase the contact area between the water and thermal surface. A round container is very inefficient, a flat bed type setup will make it dramatically more effective.

Also, use flat black for highest thermal emissivity and absorbtivity

Good ref on the subject: http://iris.lib.neu.edu/cgi/viewcon...sei-redir=1#search="thermal distiller africa"

Notice fig. 4 for the basic design

( I use to volunteer to do the projects for the Boy Scouts of America merit badge in energy. I had them make solar ovens and solar hot dog cookers.... amazing how well they can work)

HTH's
Av

 

[MICKEY]

you need a larger area instead if the 2 bottles I would use a black pan with a clear plastic tent over it pyramid shaped with the point pushed down into a jar

 

[jesse]

You are the one which is going to choose if you want to do that or not, but i highly recommend it. The water that is on the other bottle is 100% Pure.

I doubt if your construction will work at all. I don't see any reason why much of the humid air from the hot bottle should flow into the cool bottle as long as the hot bottle stays below boiling temperature of water.

If I wanted to do something similar, I'd use a principle like that:
http://www.need.org/needpdf/IntSolarDistiller.pdf

And as others told you: The more water surface you have (and the warmer the water), the more water will evaporate and condense. The water distiller of need.org works best with a very big surface of the big barrel and a very small surface of the jar that collects the purified water. I don't know any actual results, but my estimation is that you can perhaps get only one litre of purified water from a vaporizer with 1 metre diameter per day with 12 hours of sun on the equipment.

 

[Fieldz]

I will make an circle mirror using aluminium paper. That will increase the evaporation as a big surface of ligt will be directed to the bottle. Anyway, i dont need much water, so basicly that would fit perfectly to me as i only have a Dionaea Muscipula right now. I will build it, take pictures and show you guys what i though as thats an experience.

Here is a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXjMAItCMl0&playnext=1&list=PL9E37488EAB4AE521

 

[MH1]

I remember watching a program where someone did this in the Saharan desert. But instead, they put their own pee in one bottle until the water line was just below the mouth when placed horizontal. They then duct-taped it to another bottle mouth-to-mouth and covered said bottle with foil. They then placed it horizontally on the ground. It did work, although I'm not sure how well, because it was a few years ago.

 

[Sig]

I remember watching a program where someone did this in the Saharan desert. But instead, they put their own pee in one bottle until the water line was just below the mouth when placed horizontal. They then duct-taped it to another bottle mouth-to-mouth and covered said bottle with foil. They then placed it horizontally on the ground. It did work, although I'm not sure how well, because it was a few years ago.

That's the wimpy way. Bear Grylls just drinks it straight!

 

[MICKEY]

it easier to make a regular distiller with a glass bottle a cork with a hole in it and some tubing,glass is best
and heat it on the stove

---------- Post added at 11:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 AM ----------

here are some easy plans
http://www.thefoodguys.com/solarstill.htm

 

[GrowinOld]

Do you live in an area with very little rainfall?
I would use Mother Nature's natural distiller,
and simply collect rain!
That's what I am currently doing, and I usually have enough water all year for all my carnivorous plants, often having extra for many other houseplants too. While I do have to store much for over the winter, a few 55 gal. drums and some other containers do the trick.

I know it isn't as exciting as re-inventing ways to distill on a smaller scale, but it works great.

Good luck with your project, and hope things work out well.
It is good to see people here trying new things & using their minds and imaginations.


Paul

 

[MH1]

That's the wimpy way. Bear Grylls just drinks it straight!

Very true- and out of a snakeskin to boot! 'There are two ways down a hill, the slow, careful way- and the Bear Grylls way!'

 

[Not a Number]

The water doesn't need to boil. As long as there is a temperature difference between the inside of the containers and the outside air (warmer inside) you'll get condensation. Naturally the warm the better - more evaporation and warmer air can hold more water vapor.

From survival manuals a solar still can be as simple as a pit dug in the ground with a cup placed in the center, covered with a plastic sheet with a rock in the center to form a cone for the condensation to drip into the cup.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Evapo_still.svg

Take a look at this distiller:
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1oHrDdrXDro"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1oHrDdrXDro" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Here's an animated diagram of basically the same system
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ak-945Wu9Rs"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ak-945Wu9Rs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>