Self-contained photovoltaic distillation apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an apparatus that may be used to generate desalinated water from a supply of untreated water using a photovoltaic cell. The front surface of the photovoltaic cell is enclosed to form an evaporation chamber. The front surface of the photovoltaic cell is exposed to sunlight or another light source. This exposure results in power generation by the photovoltaic cell and also heats the air in the evaporation chamber. Untreated water is subsequently introduced into the evaporation chamber. Upon contacting the heated air and the front surface of the photovoltaic cell, a portion of the untreated water evaporates to generate water vapor. The water vapor is then removed from the evaporation chamber and transported to a condensation chamber. The water vapor is cooled in the condensation chamber to yield desalinated water.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15 / 379,630, filed on Dec. 15, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUNDField of the Invention[0002]The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic cell used to provide power to a distillation apparatus.Description of the Related Art[0003]The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic cell used to provide power to a distillation apparatus.[0004]The need for clean drinking water is increasingly an issue as the global population increases. Many areas that lack fresh water suitable for use as drinking water have ready access to salt water, gray water, or other contaminated water sources. However, many such areas lack the infrastructure or financial resources to refine water obtained from such sources to a drinkable quality. Frequently, such areas have abundant sunlight. This unique combination ha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes an apparatus that uses a photovoltaic cell to generate desalinated water from untreated water. The cell is enclosed to form an evaporation chamber and is exposed to sunlight or another light source. The untreated water is then introduced into the chamber and heated by the cell, resulting in the water evaporating and generating water vapor. The water vapor is then removed and cooled to create desalinated water. This invention offers a simple and efficient way to produce fresh water from untreated sources.

Problems solved by technology

The need for clean drinking water is increasingly an issue as the global population increases.

However, many such areas lack the infrastructure or financial resources to refine water obtained from such sources to a drinkable quality.

These systems require large up-front capital investment and operation of sophisticated technologies.

Many remote communities across the globe lack sufficient resources to install and operate such systems.

However, because the air is at a higher temperature, these conditions are least conducive to condensing water vapor.

Thus such systems are often highly inefficient or otherwise not very effective.

This exposure results in power generation by the photovoltaic cell and also heats the air in the evaporation chamber.

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