Solar distillation system
AssigneeKii, Inc.
InventorHillery Thomas Kemp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is generally directed to a solar distillation system capable of recovering potable water from non-potable water. In certain embodiments, the system includes a substantially air tight solar still having a roof top composed of a solar light-transmitting material. The solar still includes a tube positioned below and running underneath the roof top, the tube having an exit end. Additionally, the solar still includes a heating surface positioned below the roof top and adapted for receiving at least a portion of the non-potable water exiting the tube at the exit end. Non-potable water on the heating surface is solar heated and a portion of the non-potable water evaporates and condenses on the outside of the tube to be collected as potable water.
Claims15
A solar distillation system, comprising:
- an elongated solar still having a first end, a second end and extending along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends;
- wherein the solar still includes a plurality of frame supports positioned along the longitudinal axis and a light-transmitting canopy supported on the frame supports extending along the longitudinal axis of the solar still and covering the first and second ends;
- wherein the solar still includes an elongate heating surface having opposite first and second ends, wherein the heating surface extends substantially the length of the solar still and is enclosed within the canopy, wherein the first end of the heating surface is positioned adjacent the first end of the solar still and the second end of the heating surface is positioned adjacent the second end of the solar still;
- wherein the solar still includes at least one tubular member having first and second ends and extending substantially the length of the solar still, wherein the tubular member is enclosed within the canopy and is spaced above the heating surface, wherein the second end of the tubular member is positioned adjacent the second end of the solar still;
- wherein the solar still includes at least one collection trough having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is positioned adjacent the first end of the solar still and the second end is positioned adjacent the second end of the solar still, wherein the collection trough is positioned below and aligned with the tubular member to receive condensed water dripping from the tubular member;
- and
- wherein the solar still includes a liquid distributor positioned adjacent the second end of the heating surface, wherein the liquid distributor is for distributing water received from the second end of the tubular member substantially across the width of the heating surface.
A solar desalination system, comprising:
- an intake pump subsystem having a pump inlet and a pump outlet;
- a condensation subsystem including a solar still housing with a light-transmitting roof and a tubular member housed within the solar still housing, the tubular member having an intake end and an exit end, wherein the pump outlet is operatively coupled to the intake end;
- a collection trough positioned below and aligned with the tubular member within the solar still housing, wherein the trough includes a first end and a second end;
- a heating surface positioned within the solar still housing, the heating surface having an intake end and an exit end;
- and
- a potable water pump subsystem having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, wherein the pump inlet of the potable water pump subsystem is operatively coupled to the second end of the collection trough;
- wherein the intake pump subsystem is for pulling cool ocean water through the pump inlet from the ocean water environment and pumping the cool ocean water out the pump outlet and into the intake end of the tubular member, wherein at least a portion of the ocean water is caused to exit through the exit end of the tubular member and be released on the heating surface at or near the intake end of the heating surface so that solar heating of the ocean water on the heating surface causes a portion of the water to evaporate from the heating surface, condense on the outside of the cool tubular member, and drip into the collection trough, wherein the potable water pump subsystem is for pulling potable water from the collection trough through the pump inlet of the potable water pump subsystem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.