Floating Solar Water Purifier with Hybrid Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional water purification methods are limited in their ability to produce pure drinking water from seawater without disposing of salt, and existing technologies do not efficiently utilize solar energy and additional energy sources for large-scale water purification.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional water purification system comprising interconnected plexiglass, glass, and photovoltaic panels that hermetically seals over water surfaces, using solar energy and additional heat sources to boil seawater, condensing the vapor into purified water using a conduit and cold air, and storing it in a tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional water purification methods are used, then pure drinking water can be produced from rainwater, but the ability to purify seawater is limited and salt disposal is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by heating seawater to boiling point to generate vapor, then condensing the vapor to produce purified water. This process separates salt from water through phase change (liquid to gas to liquid), eliminating the need for salt disposal while producing drinkable water from seawater.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the water purification process into distinct functional segments: a heating zone where seawater is boiled, a vapor collection zone where steam rises and condenses on cooler surfaces, and a collection zone where purified water accumulates. This segmentation enables efficient seawater purification without salt disposal issues.
2Productivity
If solar energy alone is used for water purification, then the system is simple, but the energy input is insufficient for large-scale purification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple energy sources - solar energy (photovoltaic panels and solar thermal heating) with electrical energy (heating elements) - to create a hybrid system. This merging of energy sources enables large-scale water purification while maintaining system efficiency, overcoming the limitation of solar energy alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates multi-functionality by using photovoltaic panels that generate electricity, solar thermal collectors that provide heat, and electrical heating elements as backup or supplementary sources. This universal energy approach ensures high productivity regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a hermetic sealing structure is created over water surface, then solar energy efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses transparent flexible or rigid panels (plexiglass, glass) to create a hermetic sealing structure over the water surface. These thin film-like structures trap solar energy efficiently while maintaining relative simplicity in construction and assembly, balancing energy efficiency with structural complexity.
4Productivity
If electric resistors are used to rapidly boil water, then the purification speed increases, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges solar thermal energy (free, renewable heat from the sun) with electrical heating (controlled, rapid heating) to achieve efficient water purification. The solar thermal component reduces overall energy consumption while the electrical resistors provide rapid boiling capability when needed, balancing productivity with energy efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively produces pure drinking water from seawater, capable of meeting the needs of large communities by integrating solar and wind energy to achieve efficient and scalable water purification, with the potential to produce up to one cubic meter of pure water per day per 2 square meters of sea surface.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transmissive window (13) that transmits the solar heat within the housing (101)
Implementation Method 2
said source of heat is capable of heating the surrounding portion of water and of generating a corresponding amount of water vapour by bringing water to boiling point
Implementation Method 3
said conduit is capable of connecting said water vapour with a source of cold air in order to transform said water vapour into purified water
Data Source
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AI summary
A water purification system comprising a structure consisting of interconnected plates, the structure having at least an open space which coincides with its lower portion, such that the structure can be placed on the surface of the water in a reservoir to form a closed space. The system further comprises at least one source of heat placed under the surface of the water, capable of heating the surrounding portion of water and of generating a corresponding amount of water vapour, at least one conduit to connect said water vapour with a source of cold air so as to condense the water vapour into purified water, and a tank to store the purified water.