Solar Power Integration in Water (H2O) Distillation (SPIN-HD)

• Main Authors: Carlos, Charlize F., De Vera, John Raphael D., Nicolas, Juan Enrico A., Ho, Steven Francis C.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: water distillation; solar distillation; distillation
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2021/paper_see/9; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/conf_shsrescon/article/1679/viewcontent/SEE__Solar_Power_Integration_in_Water__H2O__Distillation__SPIN_HD_.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

As the world faces a looming crisis of water scarcity and contamination, water use and safe consumption have been compromised worldwide. People depend on tap water whose contamination causes a wide range of diseases, which are often life-threatening. Given that water purifying methods are not commonly accessible in households, and solar stills are only efficient with sunlight, this study employed a creation of a solar-powered water distiller prototype that can be used in small settings. The study consisted of designing and building a battery-powered safety testing setup, safety testing, designing and building of the solarpowered water distiller prototype, prototype testing, and data collection. An integration of hardware materials, i.e., 2 stainless steel cylindrical containers, AWG 14, car glow plug heater, customized condensation sloping lid, and 12V4.5Ah battery, was done in building the safety testing setup. The safety testing was followed by the removal of the 12V4.5aH battery, and the consequent integration of the 50-watt solar panel, solar charge controller, and 12V30Ah battery. After five (5) experimental testings, the solar-powered water distiller prototype produced an average volume of 58.6mL in an average heating time of 112.2 minutes, making an average distillation rate of 31.3mL/hr. Such a distillation rate was obtained under an average ambient temperature of 31.2oC, average starting battery voltage of 12.3, and average end battery voltage of 4.1.