Haitian Desal-A-Nation (A solar powered water distiller)
Background
Small-scale desalination is a method that helps to desalinize cases of water scarcity. The salt water that is efficient and profitable. And, it is also life-saving and making the affected people live a healthy lifestyle. Several water desalination projects are in place to include the C- water, MIT solar powered desalination system and the Haitian Desal-A-Nation.
Figure 1 : the Haitian Desal-A-Nation [3]
This project is aimed at developing a distillation system which works solely on sunlight. The architecture is simple and hence can easily be reproduced for more consumers and additionally, the glass material is strengthened for durability.
The project is supposed to solve the water problems in Haiti since it is surrounded by salt water and thus having the abundance of saline water and little fresh water, this amount of fresh water is not enough for domestic, industrial and agricultural use thus making it necessary to find an alternative source of clean water[1]. In this light, several projects and researchers have been going on top find a solution to water scarcity; the projects include using the solar powered water distiller which acts on a humidification-dehumidification principle that makes the once saline water to be clean and crystal clear. Materials in this distiller are charcoal bamboo and louffa which have been tested over long periods and different conditions to determine the efficiency of the humidifier [1].
Introduction
Developing countries are by coincidence based in climatic regions that support the use of renewable energy [2]. The solar insolation in Africa and some parts of Asia is mostly high for the most of the year and therefore the use of solar power to generate energy is very economical and environmentally friendly. However, the problems facing developing countries apart from poverty and corruption is the inadequacy of water. The Haitian solar powered distiller provides a solution to water lack by distilling salt water and making it clean and consumable. This process is economical since the equipment is locally available and the primary source of energy is sunshine. The Haitian Desal-A-Nation project uses solar energy and to distill water, it has a material that has the properties of solar energy harnessing and also the favorite color.
The system is made up of dark colored circular glass at the bottom and a brightly colored one at the top and additionally, it has opening at the top and bottom containers and a pipe connecting the top to the bottom.
Discussion
First, we look at desalination. It is the taking out of salt and other saline minerals from water and making it clean once more.
The world water reservoir
Figure 2: Average water Use per Person per Day [2]
Several technological angles are being taken to solve fresh water shortage through desalination, and they include the use of thermal energy from fossil fuels and also renewable energy sources [2]. The Renewable Energy Sources (RES) occurs to be convenient due to a reduced financial input into such projects. The electric energy then drives high-pressure pumps in which chemical processes take place.
RES desalination methods include the photovoltaic method, ocean power desalination, hybrid desalination and nuclear desalination. Looking at the solar powered desalination process which is a little different from the photovoltaic process we realize that the system contains three different concentrating systems. There is the linear concentrator the engine and finally the tower systems. The system includes darkened metal which absorbs the solar energy and converts it to heat. The heat then evaporates the saline water inside the circular container making water vapour from the saline water to rise.as it is being carried by the surrounding air.
Workability
During solar insolation the glass get heated as it absorbs the heat. The temperature rises and thus the surrounding air and water is heated, consequently the water heats to its boiling point and starts to evaporate.
Figure 3: Haitian Desal-A-Nation working [2]
The water heats up forming water vapor which rises up the large container. The lifting of the vapor is caused by the hot air surrounding the water at a lower density. As the water vapor rises it collects in a second upper container which is brightly colored hence reflecting light and consequently at a lower temperature. Thus the moisture condenses to liquid droplets which trickle to the bottom of the container forming clean water.
The system has got taps both at the top and the bottom , the bottom opening allows for filling and emptying the saline water while the top opening allowing for drawing of the clean water.
Testing method
The saline water has several mineral salts that make it have a different pH to that of clean water. Tests for nitrates and other soluble carbonates from the mineral rocks include the nitrate test strip and the pH test strips [3].
. The architecture of the equipment is very simple and also maintenance is cheap. There are several types of the HDH systems one based on the source of energy used the second on cycle configuration being either closed air or open water. And lastly, is the third that works with either heating of air or water.
Conclusion
Salt water desalination in Haiti or any other part of the world that needs fresh water and has an abundant source of salt water is now possible once there is a source of any form of renewable energy such as the wind and solar energy. However, there are several improvements that we need for the Haitian Desal-A-Nation project to be more efficient and effective in its area of application. There are types when the renewable source of energy is unavailable. The solutions include adding a thermal storage unit for the system for an all-time functioning additionally; there is a need for an analyzed air and water flow circuitry that will help in designing more efficient distillers in the future.
References
[1] J. Kasper, "Haitian Desal-A-Nation---- Solar Powerd Water Distiller by Joe Kasper at Coroflot.com", Coroflot, 2016. [Online]. Available: http://www.coroflot.com/jrk38/haitian-desal-a-nation-solar-powerd-water-distiller. [Accessed: 19- Apr- 2016].
[2]E. Felker, "Desalination", Una-socal.org, 2016. [Online]. Available: http://www.una-socal.org/materials/Desalination.htm. [Accessed: 19- Apr- 2016].
[3]F. Driscoll, Groundwater and wells. St.Paul,Minn.: Johnson Division, 1986.
