Build a Solar Basin Still

By Chuanye Liu, from California State Poly Technic, Pomona

Bronco ID: 007758595
December 2011

Assignment of Grades:

Faculty Advisor: _______________

Table of Contents

Problem Statements -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Goals Achieved -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Step 1. Basic theory ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Step 2. Construct the devise ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Conclusion --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

Problem Statement:

A solar still is a low-tech way of distilling water, powered by the heat of the sun (more precisely,
the heat & humidity of the soil, and relative cool of the plastic). Two basic types of solar stills
are box and pit stills. In a solar still, impure water is contained outside the collector, where it is
evaporated by sunlight shining through clear plastic. The pure water vapor (and any other
included volatile solvent) condenses on the cool inside plastic surface and drips down off of the
weighted low point, where it is collected and removed. The box type is more sophisticated.
Water evaporates from the earth, plants, animals, and people, is carried far up into the sky where
it condenses to form cloudsthen it precipitates back to earth in the form of rain. This has a
purifying effect on the rainwater, as when the water evaporates, contaminants are left behind. A
solar still effectively creates the hydrological cycle in miniature in an enclosed volume. The idea
is that by evaporating water, all of the bacteria, salts and other contaminants are left behind, with
the precipitate being pure, drinkable water. Even seawater can be desalinated using this process.

Goals Achieved:
The project is divided into two steps.
Step 1: Basic theory study
Most of the incoming solar energy go through the glass cover and enter the system. A big part of
it will absorbed by the back frame, the rest will loss through convection and radiation. Most of
the energy absorbed by black frame will be used to heat up the water. Small portion of it will loss
through convection from the back of the frame. The heated water will evaporate and become
water moisture, therefore, increase the humility ratio insider the system. When the wet air inside
the system meets the top glass cover, there will be liquid water condensed at the inner surface of
the cover, as the glass cover has a relatively lower temperature. The glass cover will remain at a
constant and relatively lower temperature, since the heat will be transferred to the ambient air
through convection. The structure of the solar basin still is showed in Figure 1.
The equation below was used to calculate the heat balance of the cover glass:
(1)

Mg = The mass of the cover glass;

Tg = The temperature of the cover glass;
g = The absorptivity of the cover glass;
Hs = The radiation from the sun;
qa = The emissivity of the cover glass (including radiation and convection);
3

qw = The heat transferred from water to the cover glass (including radiation, convection, and
evaporation);
The equation below was used to calculate the heat balance of the water:

g = The absorptivity of the black fram glass;

qHT = The heat loss through the back of the frame.

Figure 1. Solar basin still structure

Step 2: Construct the device

8 liters of water was designed to use for the devise. The size of this solar still is 450mm x
260mm x 125mm, and the slope is 10o. To build the solar still is easy, the biggest problem was
discovered in the process was to get sealed. Most of the sealant does not work very well in water.
At a position near the tallest side of the box a hole is drilled and a pipe insert with a valve that
can be opened and shut, to allow brackish water to be introduced and purified. Then, squeegee
and some black silicone were mixed together and spread on the bottom face of the wooden box
so that it gets a thin uniform coat.
At the front of the still, or the shortest side of the box, a small gutter was installed. This gutter
would serve to collect your purified water which will run down by the force of gravity from your
glazing. This gutter made of a waterproof material. A hole was drilled in the side of the frame of
the still, and a pipe was introduced to allow the clean water siphon off.

The silicone has two functions. First of all, it acts as a black collector surface, absorbing
radiation and creating heat. But secondly, it protects the wood by making the enclosure
waterproof. On top of this sealed box a sheet of glazing was placed. This needs to be sealed
around the edges with frame sealant to ensure a good watertight fit. The brackish water was
never allowed to rise above the level of the guttering, as it would contaminate the clean water.
The whole solar still is illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Finished solar basin still

Conclusion

Solar stills are used in cases where rain, piped, or well water is impractical, such as in remote
homes or during power outages. Knowing how to put together a solar still can prove to be a
useful survival skill and could provide an important means of potable water in the event of a
wilderness emergency. Nevertheless, under typical conditions makeshift solar stills rarely
produce enough water for long-term survival, and the sweat expended in building one can easily
exceed its daily output. Solar stills can extract water from moisture in the ground but to increase
the amount of moisture available to a solar still, water (fresh or saline) can be added inside or
along the edges of the still. Where no water sources are readily available, shredded vegetation,
wet soil/sand, urine or covered feces can be used inside the pit. If only the natural soil moisture is
used, the pit must eventually be moved as the productivity drops. To prevent losing moisture by
taking apart the still to retrieve collected water a length of plastic tubing can be used to sip water
as it accumulates.

Water evaporates from the earth, plants, animals, and people, is carried far up into the sky where
it condenses to form cloudsthen it precipitates back to earth in the form of rain. This has a
purifying effect on the rainwater, as when the water evaporates, contaminants are left behind. A
solar still effectively creates the hydrological cycle in miniature in an enclosed volume. The idea
is that by evaporating water, all of the bacteria, salts and other contaminants are left behind, with
the precipitate being pure, drinkable water. Even seawater can be desalinated using this process.