An educational article comparing different types of solar stills

1. Comparative analysis of different types
of Solar Stills – By Utkarsh Sethia
Note – The information provided in this article is
for educational purpose only
Utkarsh Sethia
Mob – 8056270110
E Mail – sethiautkarsh@gmail.com
Note – The information provided in this article is
for educational purpose only
Utkarsh Sethia
Mob – 8056270110
E Mail – sethiautkarsh@gmail.com

2. Solar ball
1) Inventor - Jonathan Liow
2) Material of construction – Plastic
3) Output - 3 liters of clean water per day
4) Advantage - Inexpensive and relatively small in size,
making it easy to transport

3. 5) Disadvantage –
a) Does not generate enough water for one person.
b) Need to be made of a durable plastic that can
withstand constant exposure to the hot sun and
not become weakened easily.
References :-
1) http://earthtechling.com/2011/03/solar-powered-
ball-purifies-dirty-water/
2) http://www.treehugger.com/clean-
technology/solar-powered-hamster-ball-purifies-
water-for-drinking.html
3) http://inhabitat.com/hamster-ball-shaped-
solarball-uses-the-sun-to-purify-water/
5) Disadvantage –
a) Does not generate enough water for one person.
b) Need to be made of a durable plastic that can
withstand constant exposure to the hot sun and
not become weakened easily.
References :-
1) http://earthtechling.com/2011/03/solar-powered-
ball-purifies-dirty-water/
2) http://www.treehugger.com/clean-
technology/solar-powered-hamster-ball-purifies-
water-for-drinking.html
3) http://inhabitat.com/hamster-ball-shaped-
solarball-uses-the-sun-to-purify-water/

4. Greywater purification solar still
1) Project by – Chad Veenkamp
2) Materials required – Plastic cone , laundry tub ,
plastic basin , stand , spigot
3) Output - 3-3.5 liters per day

5. 4) Advantage - No running costs
5) This type of solar still is used in Longido, Tanzania.
References :-
HTTPS://WWW.BEHANCE.NET/GALLERY/28269235/GR
EYWATER-PURIFICATION-SOLAR-STILL

6. Water cone
1) Invented by - Stephan Augstin
2) Material of construction - 100% recyclable polycarbonate
3) Output – 1 to 1.7 liters per day
4) Base diameter - 60 - 80 cm
5) life expectancy - 3 to 5 years
6) Price - $69 per piece
7) Payback period – 5 months (Assuming the price of a bottle
of water being $0.50)
1) Invented by - Stephan Augstin
2) Material of construction - 100% recyclable polycarbonate
3) Output – 1 to 1.7 liters per day
4) Base diameter - 60 - 80 cm
5) life expectancy - 3 to 5 years
6) Price - $69 per piece
7) Payback period – 5 months (Assuming the price of a bottle
of water being $0.50)

7. 8) Advantage :-
It is very durable, easy to transport (they stack easily),
inexpensive to produce, and low-tech enough that it
can be used even if no other infrastructure is present.
9) Alternative use :-
a) Time efficient and hygienic drying of fruits and fish
inside the Watercone.
b) Rain water harvesting during Monsoon season with
the Watercone as collector funnel.
8) Advantage :-
It is very durable, easy to transport (they stack easily),
inexpensive to produce, and low-tech enough that it
can be used even if no other infrastructure is present.
9) Alternative use :-
a) Time efficient and hygienic drying of fruits and fish
inside the Watercone.
b) Rain water harvesting during Monsoon season with
the Watercone as collector funnel.

8. 10) Philosophy :-
Many peripheral small units can ensure a better supply of
freshwater than one central big generator. If the big one
fails, there is no water for the people. If a small one fails,
the other ones still keep on working.
References :-
1) http://www.watercone.com/product.html
2) http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/this-device-
provides-clean-water-for-pennies-a-day.html
3) http://www.appropedia.org/Watercone
4) http://bluelivingideas.com/2009/03/13/the-watercone-a-
simple-effective-solar-still/
10) Philosophy :-
Many peripheral small units can ensure a better supply of
freshwater than one central big generator. If the big one
fails, there is no water for the people. If a small one fails,
the other ones still keep on working.
References :-
1) http://www.watercone.com/product.html
2) http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/this-device-
provides-clean-water-for-pennies-a-day.html
3) http://www.appropedia.org/Watercone
4) http://bluelivingideas.com/2009/03/13/the-watercone-a-
simple-effective-solar-still/

9. Suns River solar still

10. 1) Jointly Developed by KII and UTEP
2) Cost – Ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 per modular unit
3) Production – Around 30 gallons of clean water a day
4) Salient features & Advantages:-
a) A small suns river solar still module provides daily
drinking water for a family of four.
b) Classic solar still converts only about one-quarter of
incoming solar energy into fresh water, while this
technology is about 90 percent efficient.
c) 80 percent of the feed ends up as distilled water.
d) The operation is noiseless and there are no internal
moving parts. A simple low pressure water pump is
its most complex component. The operation is
automated and needs only occasional attention.
e) Can produce distillate at rates 4 - 5 times the classic
solar still for the same area.
1) Jointly Developed by KII and UTEP
2) Cost – Ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 per modular unit
3) Production – Around 30 gallons of clean water a day
4) Salient features & Advantages:-
a) A small suns river solar still module provides daily
drinking water for a family of four.
b) Classic solar still converts only about one-quarter of
incoming solar energy into fresh water, while this
technology is about 90 percent efficient.
c) 80 percent of the feed ends up as distilled water.
d) The operation is noiseless and there are no internal
moving parts. A simple low pressure water pump is
its most complex component. The operation is
automated and needs only occasional attention.
e) Can produce distillate at rates 4 - 5 times the classic
solar still for the same area.

11. Suns river solar still test :-
a) Size – 1.4 m2
b) Place – Brackish groundwater national desalination
research facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico
c) Time – 10:45 am ( Dec 17 , 2012 ) to 10:45 am ( Dec 18 ,
2012)
d) Solar radiation received – 3.55 kWh/m2
e) Solar period – 7hours 15 minutes
f) Solar still production ( 1st effect ) - 7.33 liters
g) Solar still production ( 2nd effect ) - 4.49 liters
h) Total distillate production – 11.82 liters
i) Results:-
1) 8.44 liters per m2
2) 0.42 kWh/liter
3) Production during the solar day – 1 liter/hour (approx)
Suns river solar still test :-
a) Size – 1.4 m2
b) Place – Brackish groundwater national desalination
research facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico
c) Time – 10:45 am ( Dec 17 , 2012 ) to 10:45 am ( Dec 18 ,
2012)
d) Solar radiation received – 3.55 kWh/m2
e) Solar period – 7hours 15 minutes
f) Solar still production ( 1st effect ) - 7.33 liters
g) Solar still production ( 2nd effect ) - 4.49 liters
h) Total distillate production – 11.82 liters
i) Results:-
1) 8.44 liters per m2
2) 0.42 kWh/liter
3) Production during the solar day – 1 liter/hour (approx)

12. References:-
1) http://www.suns-river.com/
2) http://redriverradio.org/post/many-la-
entrepreneur-unveils-solar-still-units-desert-homes