Portable Desalination System

Project E3Renn Darawali, Kevin Park, Leyden Recinos, Jacob Sanchez, & Mio

Unno

Client: CleanSpark (Lauren Cwiklo)Course Advisor: Jan Kleissl

ObjectivesProject DescriptionTo design and construct a portable desalination device

Ideal Project Parameterso Produces a significant amount of potable water (~10

gal/day)o Utilizes some form of renewable energyo Must be transportableo Preferably able to be constructed with $400 dollars

PIcture taken from http://www.collinsvilleil.org/

PIcture taken from renewablemarketwatch.com

Project Task Descriptions1. Research solar desalination2. Heat transfer modeling3. Construction4. Testing 5. Efficiency analysis

Our Design

Solar collectors & reflectors

Tank

Figure modeled on Solidworks by Jacob Sanchez

Distillation

Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors● Evacuated tube

transfers more energy to speed up evaporation

● Acetone used for non-toxic liquid

● Heat collects at the top and condensation runs back to the bottom again

Figure taken from www.siliconsolar.com

Parabolic Reflectors● Parabolic geometry ● Concentrates solar irradiation to a

single line● Reflective material uses a mylar-

type material called Reflectech with a reflectivity ~0.93

Photo from www.reflectechsolar.com

Photo from wikidot.com

● Graham Condenser● Cold Water flow in at C, out

at D● Steam flow in at A, distilled

water out at B● Water pump powered by

solar panel● Easily taken apart,

portable and replaceable

Distillation

Figure taken from www.homebrewtalk.com

Experimental MethodsEfficiency of the design can be tested at various points of construction:

Solar Collector:- Measure

temperature from solar collector

Within the tank:- Measure initial and

final mass of seawater

Distillation:- Measure water

quality of output water

BacteriaLeadNitrate/NitriteHardnesspH

- Measure mass of output water

Team Assignments and Organization

1.Solar Collector → Renn & Mio2.Reflectors → Jacob3.Tank → Leyden4.Distillation → Kevin5.Quality Testing → Mio

Work ScheduleWeek 1------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Research of DesalinationWeek 2------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Idea Proposal + Initial DesignWeek 3------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fabrication of Solar CollectorsWeek 4------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Modeling of Solar Reflectors and Distillation ComponentsWeek 5------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Initial Testing of Solar Collector Efficiency

Week 6----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fabrication of Tank, Condenser, and Solar ReflectorsWeek 7----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Assembly of Complete PrototypeWeek 8----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Prototype Testing Week 9----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Field Test at La Jolla ShoresWeek 10---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Evaluation and Analysis

Preliminary ResultsTesting the rod in boiling pot of water:● Water Temperature→ 79℃● Surface Temperature of Heat Pipe → 38℃

→ Results may be faulty, due to the use of a infrared thermometer

Picture taken from www.stereophile.com

Preliminary Results (contd)4/25/15, 3:00pm- GHI: ~300

W/m^2 (UCSD DEMROES)

- Tbulb = 32oC- Tpipe = 44oC- Ttube = 87oC

*suggests new heat pipe design Picture taken by Renn Darawali

What’s nextSolar Collectors● Assemble

parabolic reflectors & combine with tubes

Tank● Design

connection between solar collector, tank , & distiller

Distillation● Test efficiency and

capacity of distiller

Questions?