Solar Still
History
With the advent of the novel coronavirus, the ESW-URI decided to meet completely online for the Spring 2021 semester. In doing so, we needed to focus on a project that could be completed virtually. The Solar Still was the perfect project for this - involving a lot of brainstorming, planning, researching, and learning, which could be done via the internet, as well as socially distanced outdoor trips to scout the location. Additionally, it focused on the key principles of ESW: teamwork, sustainability, functionality, and community. This project allowed for members both old and new to learn key development skills such as project management, design, researching, and public speaking. Our intention for this project is to complete the design portion and create a prototype to be tested on a local river. This river is situated in downtown Wakefield next to an elementary school in a highly trafficked area, and will have an educational component to demonstrate the practical applications of sustainable technologies in the real world.
Description
A solar still is a method of creating potable drinking water from seawater or contaminated water by use of the sun’s heat. The solar still operates on the principles of evaporation and condensation. The unpurified water is collected in a trough where it sits in the sun, raising the temperature and converting the water from liquid to gas phase. As the water vapor rises, it condenses onto the ceiling above and leaves any metals, bacteria, or minerals behind. The purified condensation is then collected by gravity into a clean water trough, now safe for drinking and cooking, without the use of any added chemicals or energy.