Solar Powered Water Purification System

Abstract

A distillation unit for producing potable water using solar radiation is disclosed. The distillation unit includes a heating chamber defining an interior chamber adapted to contain a non-potable liquid for distillation, and a dome-shaped condensing portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, with the condensing portion disposed over the heating chamber such that the heating chamber and the inner surface of the condensing portion are provided in fluid-transfer communication. The distillation unit also includes a pre-heat jacket having a first surface and a second surface and an interior defined therebetween adapted to receive non-potable liquid for distillation therein. The first surface is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the condensing portion, and the pre-heat jacket defines an access entry for introducing non-potable liquid for distillation into the interior of the heating chamber. The distillation unit also includes a trough adjacent for receiving a potable liquid therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A distillation system, comprising:
 a parabolic dish concentrator adapted to receive and concentrate solar radiation from the sun and capture heat therefrom; and   a separate water distillation unit positioned at or remote from the focal point of the concentrator.   
     
     
         2 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrator is formed of a plurality of segments. 
     
     
         3 . The distillation system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of segments are interlocking segments which are engaged to form the concentrator. 
     
     
         4 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrator has a circular outer perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , wherein the focal point of the concentrator is coincident with the center of the circular perimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrator is formed of a plurality of interlocking segments. 
     
     
         7 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrator comprises a supportive dish segment and a reflective surface segment. 
     
     
         8 . The distillation system of  claim 7 , wherein the reflective surface segment is back-coated by aluminized vapor deposition. 
     
     
         9 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , wherein the separate water distillation unit comprises:
 a heating chamber having a first end and a second end and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior adapted to contain a non-potable liquid for distillation;   a dome-shaped condensing portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the condensing portion disposed over the first end of the heating chamber, wherein the first end of the heating chamber and the inner surface of the condensing portion are provided in fluid-transfer communication;   a pre-heat jacket having a first surface and a second surface and an interior defined therebetween adapted to receive non-potable liquid for distillation therein, the first surface disposed adjacent the outer surface of the condensing portion, the pre-heat jacket defining an access entry for introducing non-potable liquid for distillation into the interior of the heating chamber; and   a trough adjacent the first open end of the heating chamber for receiving a potable liquid therein.   
     
     
         10 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal receiver adapted for receiving solar radiation from the sun and converting the solar radiation into heat at least partially positioned at a focal point of the concentrator and separate from the concentrator;
 a thermal storage reservoir separate from the heating chamber;   a heating circuit extending between the thermal receiver and the thermal storage reservoir, wherein a heat transfer medium circulated through the heating circuit is heated by the solar radiation received by the thermal receiver and heat from the heated heat transfer medium is stored in the thermal storage reservoir; and   a heat transfer circuit extending between the thermal storage reservoir and the heating chamber, whereby stored heat from the thermal storage reservoir is transferred to the non-potable liquid contained in the heating chamber.   
     
     
         11 . A distillation system, comprising:
 a concentrator adapted to receive and concentrate solar radiation from the sun and capture heat therefrom, the concentrator defining a center hole therein and having a focal point coincident with the center hole; and   a water distillation unit positioned at the focal point of the concentrator.   
     
     
         12 . The distillation system of  claim 11 , wherein the concentrator is formed of a plurality of segments. 
     
     
         13 . The distillation system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of segments are interlocking segments which are engaged to form the concentrator. 
     
     
         14 . The distillation system of  claim 11 , wherein the concentrator has a circular outer perimeter. 
     
     
         15 . The distillation system of  claim 14 , wherein the focal point of the concentrator is coincident with the center of the perimeter. 
     
     
         16 . The distillation system of  claim 11 , wherein the concentrator is formed of a plurality of interlocking segments. 
     
     
         17 . The distillation system of  claim 11 , wherein the concentrator comprises a supportive dish segment and a reflective surface segment. 
     
     
         18 . The distillation system of  claim 17 , wherein the reflective surface segment is back-coated by aluminized vapor deposition. 
     
     
         19 . The distillation system of  claim 11 , wherein the separate water distillation unit comprises:
 a heating chamber having a first end and a second end and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior adapted to contain a non-potable liquid for distillation;   a dome-shaped condensing portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the condensing portion disposed over the first end of the heating chamber, wherein the first end of the heating chamber and the inner surface of the condensing portion are provided in fluid-transfer communication;   a pre-heat jacket having a first surface and a second surface and an interior defined therebetween adapted to receive non-potable liquid for distillation therein, the first surface disposed adjacent the outer surface of the condensing portion, the pre-heat jacket defining an access entry for introducing non-potable liquid for distillation into the interior of the heating chamber; and   a trough adjacent the first open end of the heating chamber for receiving a potable liquid therein.   
     
     
         20 . The distillation system of  claim 11 , further comprising a thermal receiver adapted for receiving solar radiation from the sun and converting the solar radiation into heat at least partially positioned at a focal point of the concentrator and separate from the concentrator;
 a thermal storage reservoir separate from the heating chamber;   a heating circuit extending between the thermal receiver and the thermal storage reservoir, wherein a heat transfer medium circulated through the heating circuit is heated by the solar radiation received by the thermal receiver and heat from the heated heat transfer medium is stored in the thermal storage reservoir; and   a heat transfer circuit extending between the thermal storage reservoir and the heating chamber, whereby stored heat from the thermal storage reservoir is transferred to the non-potable liquid contained in the heating chamber.