Solar Water Stills: Principles And Application

Since the 1980s, no large-capacity solar distillation plants have been built, mainly for the following reasons: Large installation areas are needed, solar distillation plants have low efficiencies, and solar water desalination has been developed, which in some cases can replace solar distillation (e.g., for medium-size communities). (more…)

Solar Water Desalination: Reverse Osmosis, Electrodialysis, and Mechanical Vapor Compression Desalination Methods

Solar energy desalination is a method by which the sun’s energy is used to desalinate brackish or seawater to produce fresh drinkable water. There are two methods for using solar energy: directly by heating and evaporating the brackish or seawater in a solar still (this method is called solar distillation) and indirectly by capturing solar energy using one of the techniques that transform solar radiation into thermal or electrical energy to drive a conventional desalination method (the indirect method is called solar-assisted or solar-driven desalination). (more…)