Construction of Thermosyphonic Solar Water Purifier

Course No: ME3200

Name of the course: Special Studies

SUPERVISED BY PREPARED BY
Dr. Khandkar Aftab Hossain Jishan Ahmed
Professor Roll: 1805026
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Khulna University of Engineering & Technology

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

KHULNA UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING &
TECHNOLOGY
 Table of Content

No. Name Page

Abstract 03

1.0 Introduction 04
1.1. History of Water Treatment 05
1.2. Methods of Water Purification 08
1.3. Distillation 10
1.4. Solar Distillation 11
1.5. Thermosyphon 13
1.6. Thermosyphon Systems 14

2.0. Problem Description and Objectives 15

2.1. Problem Description 15

2.2. Objectives 15

3.0. Literature Review 15

4.0. Methodology 17

5.0. Performance Analysis 21

6.0. Discussion 23

7.0. Conclusion 23

8.0. References 24

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 Table of Figure

No. Name Page

1.1. Earth’s water distribution Diagram. 04

1.2. Water Distillation 10
1.3. Solar Distil 12
1.4. Thermosiphon 14

3.1. Solar Distil 16

4.1. CAD Design 17

4.2.1. Construction Details 18

4.2.2. Construction Details 2 18

4.2.3. Construction Details 3 19

4.2.4. Construction Details 4 19

4.2.5. Construction Materials 20

4.2.6. Project Assembled 20

5.2.1. Evaporation Rates Table 21

5.2.2. Temperature Table 21

5.3.1. Evaporation Graph 22

5.3.2. Temperature Graph 22

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 Abstract

The point of this project is to study and plan to design a thermosyphonic solar water purifier.
Fresh water isn’t abundant in our planet. The accessible sources off it is often contaminated
with various micro-organisms and impurities which are very harmful sometimes lethal to us.
For these problems an easy to produce cost efficient solar powered water purifier system was
designed to be developed. Today water is treated in many ways but the most used one is
Reverse Osmosis which requires electricity and time relative change of filter materials. These
processes make it costly and not eco-friendly. But the solar purifier runs on solar power which
is abundant and not going to run out in millions of years to come. So, it is sustainable. Also,
the process used here to filter the water is distillation in a form is just a format of the natural
water. Thermosyphon is used for the flow of water and to increase the evaporation rate of the
water and then later it is condensed and collected for use. The process is similar to desalination
using solar power. Then a double basin is implied for increasing capacity and efficiency. Also,
a pcm is used in the bottom chamber to keep the system running while the sun is not available.

Keywords: Solar, Distil, Thermosyphon

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1. Introduction
Water is the most important and necessity element in human life. Approximately 70% of the
human body, water is found in the cells. The source of all body fluids including blood, lymph,
saliva, digestive enzymes, urines etc. is the pure drinking water. Water is the regulator of all
body functions. It is the main source for transporting energy to every cell in the body. The brain
is also made up of 80% of water, severe dehydration may lead to mental derangement, inability
to think clearly. Thus, human body requires a 6-8 glass of pure water daily to function properly.
Now in the world water is abundant. As we all know 71% of the earth’s surface is covered in
Oceans. Now the issue is not all of it is readily drinkable. From figure we can see. [1]

Figure 1.1: Earth’s water distribution Diagram. [2]

Now we can see that fresh water (not salt water) is only 2.5%. And then we don’t have access
to the majority of it as it is in the form of Ice Caps and Glaciers. We only have access to the

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rest of it about just 20%. Even then not all of it is safe for drinking. As unfiltered waters of
lakes and rivers isn’t safe for drinking directly.
As we all know that water is an important element to Human life so drinking water should be
pure and hygienic. Otherwise, people may suffer from various water-borne diseases. A
Developed country like Japan is supplying pure water in most of the places. The developing
and underdeveloped countries are facing the problem of unhygienic drinking water, leading to
various water borne disease. Yearly many people are dying due to lack of pure drinking water
especially people below poverty lines are suffering most from these problems.
An abundant freshwater supply is a basic necessity for the development of human civilization.
For thousands of years, we have lived in cities built on rivers so that we could drink, wash, and
move from place to place on these waters. Yet, only in the last 200 years have we seen rapid
developments in water treatment. We have come a long way in the last century, and the future
holds a lot of promise. This is a brief summary of where we’ve been and where we’re headed.

1.1. History of Water Treatment

So, water purification is an important part of civilization. The history of water purification is
very old. Ancient Greek and Sanskrit writings dating as far back as 2000 BC recommend
methods for water treatment. Even then, people knew that water could be purified with heat,
and they practiced sand and gravel filtration, boiling, and straining. Their primary motivation
in doing this was to make water taste better, as they couldn’t yet distinguish between water
that’s clean and water that’s foul. They knew to try to reduce the turbidity of the water, but
didn’t know much about chemical contamination or microorganisms. The Egyptians first
discovered the principle of coagulation around 1500 BC. They used alum to achieve suspended
particle settlement, as depicted on the wall of the tomb of Amenophis II and Ramses II.
Hippocrates first started discovering water’s healing properties around 500 BC. He invented
water sieving and created the Hippocratic sleeve, the first bag filter. This latter invention was
able to remove sediments that gave water a bad taste or smell. Between 300-200 BC, Rome
began building its aqueducts and Archimedes invented his water screw.
Aqueducts:
In the 7th century BC, the Assyrians built the first structure for transporting water, a 32-foot
high and nearly 100-foot-long structure that brought water nearly 50 miles across a valley to
Nineveh.

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Romans later began building many of these structures themselves and called them aqueducts,
from the Latin words for “water” and “to lead”. The aqueducts were sophisticated structures
that transported water for long distances using only the power of gravity. They supplied the
Roman Empire’s large cities and industrial regions.
Rome alone constructed eleven of these aqueducts, building more than 250 miles of them over
the span of 500 years. Most of them were built underground to keep them safe from pollution
and war. They supplied Rome with over 250 million gallons of water per day, and many still
stand in Spain, Turkey, Germany, and France. Many of the techniques used in these aqueducts
are still being used to build modern water transport systems today.

Archimedes’ screw
The Green engineer Archimedes lived between 287 and 212 BC. One of his inventions was a
machine for bringing water upwards to higher ground from a low body of water. It took the
form of a very large screw inside of a hollow pipe that pumps the water up. Archimedes’ screw
was originally used to remove water from ship bilges and mines, as well as to help irrigate
farmlands. His design is still in use for transporting water to higher ground today, such as in
the Dutch city of Zoetermeer. More importantly, it serves as the basis for many modern
industrial pumps.
Water Treatment Is Reborn after Fading Away
Water treatment in the Middle Ages (500-1500 AD) became less sophisticated, as the Roman
aqueducts fell into disrepair with the collapse of the Roman Empire. In these times, relatively
little was done to ensure public access to a clean water supply.
Sir Francis Bacon restarted the advancement of water treatment practices in 1627, when he
began experiments in seawater desalination. He tried to use sand filtration to filter salt out of
saltwater. His experiment didn’t succeed, but he laid the groundwork for other scientists to get
involved in the field.
In the 1670s, two Dutch spectacle makers were experimenting with grinding and polishing
lenses for enhanced magnification. This was the first microscope, which allowed Antoine van
Leeuwenhoek to first observe aquatic microorganisms.
The first water filters made from charcoal, wool, and sponge were created for home application
in the 1700s. Then Robert Thom designed the first municipal water treatment plant in Scotland
in 1804. The treatment there utilized slow sand filtration, and they distributed the water with a
horse-drawn cart. Water pipes were installed three years later, and the idea was proposed that

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everyone should have access to safe drinking water. Unfortunately, this still hasn’t become a
reality everywhere in the world even to this day.
Then, in 1854, there was another breakthrough: researchers discovered that an epidemic of
cholera spread through water, and that the outbreak had been less intense in areas that had sand
filters. John Snow discovered it was caused by sewage water contaminating the water pump,
and used chlorine to purify it. This helped establish the practice of water disinfection and
chlorination.
The water had smelled and tasted fine, so this was when they figured out that that’s not enough
to guarantee the safety of the water. As a result, cities began installing municipal water filters,
and government regulation of water started to become the norm.
Water Treatment Advances into Modernity
America began building large sand filters in the 1890s. Rapid sand filtration outperformed
slow sand filtration, and they used a jet stream to clean the filter and improve its capacity.
Researchers also discovered that filtration worked better when you treated the water with
coagulation and sedimentation first. At the same time, water chlorination became more
widespread and waterborne illnesses like cholera and typhoid became less of an issue.
It wasn’t long though before chlorination started to reveal negative side effects. Chlorine
vaporization was linked to respiratory disease, and experts began searching for alternatives.
Calcium hypochlorite and ferric chloride were first used in Belgium in 1902, and ozone was
first used in France in 1906. People also began using home water filters to prevent the negative
effects of chlorine themselves.
Water softening was invented in 1903 for desalinating water. Then, in 1914, standards based
on coliform growth were implemented for drinking water in public traffic. However, it wasn’t
until the 1940s that these water standards were applied to municipal water supplies. From there
it was another thirty years before the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Safe Drinking Water
Act of 1974, which developed the principle of that everyone has the right to safe water.
This was also when the major public health concerns around drinking water shifted from
disease-causing bacteria to man-made pollutants such as pesticides, chemicals, and industrial
sludge. New regulations addressed water contamination and waste from industrial processes,
and water treatment plants adapted to the new threats. They applied new techniques including
active carbon adsorption, aeration, and flocculation.
In the 1980s, researchers developed the first membranes for reverse osmosis systems. Soon
after, water treatment plants began regularly running risk assessments of the water.

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2000 and Beyond Today, the processes of filtration and disinfection are still in use, but are
continually being refined based on our better understanding of the complex web of physical
and chemical interactions that make these processes work. Particles can now be measured in
microns, and we can detect compounds to part-per-billion and part-per-trillion levels.
Regulations now require not only proper disinfection but also careful control of disinfection
by-products. Membranes are starting to provide the same functions as conventional treatment
and alternative disinfection methods such as ultraviolet light are coming into focus. In addition
to water treatment practices, water systems must work toward solutions to the formidable
problems of source water protection and water scarcity, as well as how to replace an aging
infrastructure. Changes in how much we charge for water will become increasingly important
as water becomes an even more valuable commodity. The challenges of supplying an
increasingly higher quality of water to an increasing human population on a planet with a
limited freshwater supply will shape the future of water utilities and advanced treatment
processes in the 21st century. [3]
1.2. Methods of Water Purification
In a country where waterborne diseases result in over thousands of deaths annually, we don’t
need to emphasize why there is an urgent need for a water purifier in every household. While
higher authorities might be doing their best to provide us with clean and safe drinking water,
we, too, have a responsibility. We need to ensure that our homes and workplaces are fitted with
an electric water purifier for safe and clean water. Most people trust an RO Water Filter or
an RO UV Water Purifier for their drinking water needs, but there are other alternative methods
that you can try.
Here are some of the most effective water purification methods that have stood the test of
time:
1. Boiling
The simplest method to purify water is to boil it for a good time. High temperatures cause the
bacteria and virus to dissipate, removing all impurities from the water. In doing so, chemical
additions cease to exist in the water. However, the dead micro-organisms and impurities settle
at the bottom of the water, and boiling does not help eliminate all the impurities. You must
strain the water through a microporous sieve to completely remove the impurities.
2. Water Purifier
An electric water purifier is the most trusted form of water purification found in most houses
today. A water purifier uses a multi-stage process involving UV and UF filtration, carbon

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block, and modern water filtration technology that eliminates most of the chemicals and
impurities, making it the purest drinking water.
3. Reverse Osmosis
A RO Purifier proves to be one of the best methods of purifying water. Reverse Osmosis forces
water through a semipermeable membrane and removes contaminants. The TDS Controller
and Mineraliser Technology, like the one found in an A. O. Smith RO UV Water Purifier,
help retain the necessary nutrients while doing away with harmful impurities.
4. Water Chlorination
It is an older technique used usually during an emergency, wherein a mild bleach with
approximately 5% chlorine is added to the water. This mixture works as an oxidant and quickly
kills microorganisms, making water safe for consumption.
5. Distillation
Distillation is a water purification process involving collecting the condensed water after
evaporation, ensuring that water is free of contaminants. However, this isn’t as effective as an
RO filter because it is time-consuming and eliminates minerals.
6. Iodine Addition
Iodine is a red chemical that is easily available as a tablet or a liquid. It is extremely powerful
as it kills bacteria and viruses. However, it adds an unpleasant taste and can be fatal if taken in
high doses. Therefore, it should only be used if you don’t have access to a better method of
purification like an electric water purifier.
7. Solar Purification
An alternative to the UV filtration is solar purification which involves treating water with the
ultraviolet radiation of the sun. The process involves filling a plastic bottle with water, shaking
it to activate the oxygen and leaving it horizontally in the sunlight. This effectively kills bacteria
and viruses present in the water, making it safe for consumption.
8. Clay Vessel Filtration
Way before people had access to an RO or UV Purifier, they used clay pots which purified
muddy water, by blocking out the mud and allowing pure, potable water to pass through. This
method is still used in some rural regions.
9. UV Radiation
Water is exposed to a UV Light that kills microorganisms, thereby preventing it from breeding
further. But if not coupled with an RO Filter, UV Radiation alone cannot remove impurities
and heavy metals.

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10. Desalination
This method is used when water with a certain level of salinity needs to be filtered. This process
is helpful.
In this project the method of water purification is mainly of distillation with the help of a
thermosyphon run by solar power. [4]
1.3. Distillation:
Water has a lower boiling point than the contaminants and minerals within it. This means that
if you boil untreated water, the water will turn into vapor and leave everything else behind.
Then the condenser lets the steam return to liquid water in a separate area from where it started.
This is the concept behind purifying water through distillation.

Figure 1.2: Water Distillation.

Water distillation is a water purification process that uses a heat source to vaporize water and
separate it from the contaminants within. Most frequently, the undesirable elements are what
you find naturally in ground or surface water.
Distillation heats untreated water until the water reaches its relatively low boiling point and
begins to vaporize. The heat of the water is then kept at this temperature to maintain the water
vaporization while stopping other elements from vaporizing as well. This process also helps to
separate the water molecules from any microscopic disease-causing organisms. Once the water
has vaporized, that vapor is then funnelled into a condenser. Removed from the heat source,
the water cools and reverts back to its liquid form and flows into a receiving container.
Throughout the course of history, people have also experimented with using solar power for
the water distillation process. This is due to the high cost of heating sources to start the process.

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This version makes use of solar power, which is more environmentally friendly than most other
power sources.
Water distillation can reduce the levels of sediment, metals, and biological contaminants within
the water. These materials are unable to travel out of the boiling chamber with the steam. Water
distillation units, when they are combined with activated carbon filtration, can be used to
effectively treat contaminants such as:
• Arsenic
• Asbestos
• Benzene
• Fluoride
• Mercury
• Lead
• Nitrate
• Radium
• Radon
• Biological Contaminants
Distillation is effective in providing clean water for both household and commercial use. It
provides water with a clarity that is up to 98% free of impurities. These units are always being
improved to increase efficiency as well as water output. This makes them popular and cost-
effective for both homeowners and business owners alike. [5]

1.4. Solar Distillation:

Solar distillation is a process in which the energy of the sun is directly used to evaporate
freshwater from sea or brackish water. The process has been used for many years, usually for
small-scale applications.
The advantage of solar water distiller is that it runs on the energy of the sun, rather than needing
an external power source.
Since solar stills use the heat of the sun directly and don’t employ solar cells to generate
electricity, the overall cost of a solar still is relatively low.

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 Figure 1.3: Solar Distil.

The solar still is made to replicate a version of the water cycle. To be more specific, the
moisture inside the distil chamber evaporates due to the sun’s heat and condenses upon
cooling down.
When the water vapor condenses, it forms water droplets that get collected and can be used
for drinking. The salts or minerals in the water doesn’t evaporate with the water.
Hence, the contaminants are left behind, while only the water gets extracted from the
solution. [6]
Advantages of solar still
There are numerous advantages to creating solar stills, and you might have picked up on
some yourself. Nonetheless, the list the most important ones down below.
No energy requirement: Solar stills can work completely independent of electricity. This
makes it an excellent option for places which do not have power lines or limited energy
reserve.
Balanced PH levels: Even if the water gets distilled from a contaminated source, the PH of
the water remains normal. No contaminants get transferred during the process.
Simple construction: Even if we build top tier solar still, the construction of it is significantly
simpler than filtration devices that run on electricity or other forms of fuel.
Low maintenance: Since solar stills don’t have any electronics or moving parts, it requires
very low maintenance.

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 1.5. Thermosiphon
A relatively simple, passive system, and the most popular solar water heater worldwide is
the thermosyphon. Thermosiphon (or thermosyphon) is a method of passive heat exchange,
based on natural convection, which circulates a fluid without the necessity of a mechanical
pump. Natural convection of the liquid starts when heat transfer to the liquid gives rise to a
temperature difference from one side of the loop to the other. The phenomenon of thermal
expansion means that a temperature difference will have a corresponding difference in density
across the loop. The warmer fluid on one side of the loop is less dense and thus
more buoyant than the cooler fluid on the other side. The warmer fluid will "float" above the
cooler fluid, and the cooler fluid will "sink" below the warmer fluid. This phenomenon of
natural convection is known by the saying: "heat rises". Convection moves the heated liquid
upwards in the system as it is simultaneously replaced by cooler liquid returning by gravity. A
good thermosiphon has very little hydraulic resistance so that liquid can flow easily under the
relatively low pressure produced by natural convection. Common in Japan, Australia, India,
and Israel, they are easily recognizable because the tank must be located directly above the
collector.
Thermosyphon systems work on the principal of heat rising. In an open-loop system (for non-
freezing climates only), potable water enters the bottom of the collector and rises to the tank as
it warms. In colder climates, an antifreeze solution, such as propylene glycol, is used in the
closed solar loop, and freeze-tolerant piping, such as cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX), is used
for the potable water lines in the attic and on the roof.
Several international manufacturers make thermosyphon systems. The advantage of this
system over the batch heater is that solar heat is stored in a well-insulated tank, so hot water
can be used any time, without the penalty of overnight losses.
The following Figure illustration includes the primary components of any thermosyphon
system.

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 Figure 1.4: Thermosiphon.

1.6 Thermosiphon systems

As shown in the Figure thermosiphon systems are the most frequently installed solar systems
worldwide. The collector is placed below the storage tank. When the sun is shining the
collector, fluid is heated up in the collector, which leads to a reduction of density. If the
temperature is so high that the weight of fluid in the line of collector bottom–collector top–
tank inlet is less than the weight of the fluid from tank inlet–tank outlet–collector inlet, the fluid
starts moving. Simplified, the pressure difference by hydrostatic uplift can be calculated by
Δpuplift= (ρi−ρo) ·g·H
With g being the gravity acceleration and the other values according Figure 2.23, right. The
resulting mass flow in results from an equality of Δpuplift and the pressure losses due to friction
and turbulence of the collector circuit Friction. [7]

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 2. Problem Description and Objectives

2.1. Problem Description

In the nature the water cycle works as an excellent water purifier. In that process
water evaporates in the atmosphere and condensates as clouds then eventually
pours back down as rain or snow. In this case the same thing is achieved where
the evaporation rate was increased using a solar distil plus thermosyphon loop to
increase heat transfer.

2.2. Objectives
• To Construct a Thermosyphonic Solar Water Purification System.
• To study on a Thermosyphonic solar water purification system.
• To learn the basic principles behind the system.
• To learn of its applications and usefulness.

3. Literature Review
In this work, dual solar water purifier was studied. Using the sun as the principal source of
energy, a cheap low technological method can be used to produce small quantities of safe
drinking water. The sun provides heat to distil and ultraviolet (UV) light as the two key
elements that destroy pathogen in water. They aided the formulation of the water purifying
model. Also, a thermosyphon loop can be used to increase the efficiency of the system. A
parabolic shaped solar radiation reflector can be used to concentrate solar energy to the looping
pipes to heat the water faster. The two popular methods of purifying water were combined to
create new purifiers’ design model. This design comprises of two already existing methods of
purifying water, the Solar Still and the SODIS (Solar water Disinfection). The addition of the
two methods creates the intended thermosyphon solar water purifier. A desalination plants.
Average intensity of the solar energy incident on the earth's surface is 1300 W ⋅m−2.

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Which is a lot of energy. Even if we can harness a small percentage of it for our system it is a
zero-carbon emissive system, which uses no power for generating clean drinkable water from
saline or untreated water. [6]
The efficiency of the system was increased using a double basin system. Also, pcm can be used
for the off-sun shine hours for a small boost to the process. Black no harmful paints used for
greater solar radiation absorption.

Copper – 398 W/m. K

Copper is the most commonly used metal for manufacturing conductive appliances in the
United States. Copper has a high melting point and a moderate corrosion rate. It is also a very
effective metal for minimalizing energy loss during heat transfer. Metal pans, hot water pipes
and car radiators are all appliances that utilize the conductive properties of copper.

Figure 3.1: Solar Distil

HERE THE THERMOSYPHONIC LOOP CAN BE SEEN TO USE THE WATER PURIFIER
EFFECTIVELY.

There is almost no water left on earth that is safe to drink without purification after 20-25
Years from today. This is a seemingly bold statement, but it is unfortunately true. Only 1% of
Earth's water is in a fresh, liquid state, and nearly all of this is polluted by both diseases and
Toxic chemicals. For this reason, purification of water supplies is extremely important.

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Keeping these things in mind, we have devised a model which will convert the dirty/saline
Water into pure/potable water using the renewable source of energy (i.e., solar energy). The
Basic modes of the heat transfer involved are radiation, convection and conduction. The
results are obtained by evaporation of the dirty/saline water and fetching it out as
Pure/drinkable water.
The designed model produces 1.5 liters of pure water from 14 liters of dirty water during
Six hours. The efficiency of plant is 64.37%. The TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) in the pure
Water is 81ppm. [9]

Keywords: renewable energy, pure water, TDS.

4. Methodology:
4.1. Design:

Figure 4.1: CAD Design.

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4.2 Construction Steps:
The process of constructing all the key parts of the Solar purifier along with the thermos
syphon loop and reflector is described below.
• Firstly, an 80kg car battery casing was chosen as the main basin. As it was black
which has good thermal quality and resistance for this job.
• Four small screw bores for joining the top transparent acrylic glass lid were added
and hinges were screwed there.

Figure 4.2.1.: Construction Details

• Again, three holes of diameter 1.2cm was punched in the basin in 3 spots. For
thermosyphon loop.
• A PVC pipe was cut in two semi circular cut and used as a collection trough for
condensate collection and attached via glue and seal putty.

Figure 4.2.2.: Construction Details 2

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• Now an acrylic glass sheet was attached as the transparent lid for trapping the
condensate via the hinges.

Figure 4.2.3.: Construction Details 3

• Now the solar concentrator was made of 12inch diameter PVC pipes cut in halves
and enfolding them with aluminium foils. Which has great thermal reflection
through radiation.

Figure 4.2.4.: Construction Details 4

• Lastly the thermosyphon loop was created with copper tubes of 1 cm diameter. And
two elbows for connecting them.

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 Figure 4.2.5.: Construction Material

• Finally, here is a rough assembly of the project.

Figure 4.2.6.: Project assembled

A stable support will be later used when it is finally assembled.
The condensates will be collected through a channel in intervals.

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 5. Performance Analysis
5.1. Theoretical Value
The Penman formula for the evaporation rate from a lake is simplified to the following:
E0={700Tm/(100−A)+15(T−Td)}/(80−T)(mmday−1)
where Tm = T + 0.006h, h is the elevation (metres), T is the mean temperature, A is the latitude
(degrees) and Td is the mean dew-point. Values given by this formula typically differ from
measured values by about 0.3 mm day−1. [10]
Using this formula taking in h as 2m and A=89.550003o
T=20oC and Td=9o or 10o C.
We get evaporation rate of 2.781mm/day

5.2. Data
Natural data and purifier data was collected a control volume of 8 litre.
Table 5.2.1. Evaporation Rates
Natural Evaporation Rate(mm/day) Project Evaporation Rate(mm/day)
6.1 8.1
5.8 6.2
8 9.1
5.2 6.1
5.7 6.5

Table 5.2.2. Temperature in Degree Celsius

Temperature of Control Volume Temperature of Basin Volume
24.5 27.2
22.3 25.1
26.2 28.4
20.4 21.9
21.7 23.8

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 Average wind speed of 5km/hr. From 9 to 13 December.
[https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/bangladesh/khulna/historic]

5.3 Results
The five-day experiment yielded this data. There is major deviation from the
theoretical data that is mainly due to the wind speed factor not accounted in the
formula.
5.3.1 Evaporation Graph

Chart Title
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4 5

Natural Evaporation Rate(mm/day) Project Evaporation Rate(mm/day)

5.3.2 Temperature Graph

Chart Title
30

25

20

15

10

0
1 2 3 4 5

Temperature of Control Volume Temperature of Basin Volume

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 6. Discussion
The deviation is due to the wind playing a key role in this experiment. Aside its varying
speed the direction also changed which some times gave advantages sometimes
disadvantages for our project. Also, the constant moving sun and the due to the season
being winter the experiment couldn’t yield satisfactory result. But it is Working
nonetheless. The syphon sometimes failed to start free convection due to the lack of
heat needed to keep it running. But these problems can be easily solved by introducing
some more loops and increasing the solar concentrator surface area for higher powered
syphon systems. But it can be concluded that the system runs which is clearly visible
from the data. It is increasing the evaporation rate to a sort and thus condensing pure
water. If it could be scaled up by a bit than it can produce much more than 5 litres a
day.
The requirements would be more working space and more loops and bigger basin with
auto feeding system.
Evaporation rate and temperature was chosen as key data values as this two alone can
decisively prove the system is working. As for wind and solar power cannot be
controlled or measured with such less data points in such short times.

7. Conclusion
Thermosyphonic solar water purification system is a cheap environment friendly efficient
system for getting access to clean water. This system with three moods of purification
cleanses the water of any harmful elements both biological and chemical. This process also
eliminates any form of harmful pathogen thanks to the UV rays of the sun. The only
drawback is it also eliminates useful minerals from the water and in some rare cases might
not purify the water of all impurities such as impurities which have lower melting point than
water. The output of the machine can be assumed to about 2 letter/day. The basins need to be
cleaned after some use to get rid of the waste left behind after successive cycle of filtrations.
During the rainy days and winter this system does become a bit obsolete but a reminder is
that other easier techniques can be adapted in those days to get fresh water. This system is
relatively cheaper than other systems and works on zero energy. All the process here is very
simple phenomenon to understand so no complexity will arise while teaching the use of this

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system to all kinds of people. This system can work as a filter for families which is eco-
friendly efficient and safe.

8. References
1. Construction, Fabrication and Performance Analysis of an Indigenously Built Serpentine
Type Thermosyphon Solar Water Heater (May 2014)
DOI:10.1109/ICDRET.2014.6861712
Conference: 3rd International Conference on the Developments in Renewable Energy
Technology, ICDRET 2014
At: United International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263013281_Construction_Fabrication_and_Perfor
mance_Analysis_of_an_Indigenously_Built_Serpentine_Type_Thermosyphon_Solar_Water_
Heater
2. https://angelwater.com/blog/history-water-
treatment/#:~:text=Water%20Treatment%20Starts%20in%20Ancient,filtration%2C%20boili
ng%2C%20and%20straining.
3. A Brief History of Drinking Water by Ellen L. Hall and Andrea M. Dietrich June, 2000
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325781903_A_Brief_History_of_Drinking_Water
4. Solar distillation using three different phase change materials stored in a copper cylinder
Authors: Varun KumarSonkeraJyoti PrasadChakrabortybArnabSarkaraRishikesh KumarSingha
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484719304263
5. https://advancedwaterinc.com/water-distillation-work/
6. https://interestingengineering.com/solar-water-still-the-no-cost-method-to-distill-pure-
water
7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/thermosiphon-system
8. Final Project Report Thermosyphon Trevor Book Reid Hoffman Kawila Miller Spring,
2009
9. System Design Senior Project Final Report Team Members: Ben Jordan Nick Kipe Tyler
Thumma Advisor: Dr. Ressler
10. A simple formula for estimating evaporation rates in various climates, using temperature
data alone
Author: Edward T. Linacre
School of Earth Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia)
Received 20 August 1976, Accepted 7 April 1977, Available online 14 May 2003.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-1571(77)90007-3

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