Solar Filter
Here is what we used, how much each component costs, and the procedure to build this simple solar water filter:
Materials and Tools used: Materials bought (all from Target):
2 chip dishes 2 chip dishes $ 2.99 ea.
2 5 gal. water containers 2 5 gal. water containers $ 9.99 ea.
1 piece of Foil
1 saw Tax (CA tax: 8.25%) $ 2.14
2 lighter _______________________________________
1 filer Total $28.10
1 utility knife
1 Exacto knife Cost for each of the four group members: $7.025!!!
-Note we bought two of the materials bought, because we have a spare for emergency and maybe for ourselves.
Steps:
1. Using the saw, cut the water container in half yielding two sections (top and bottom) and, using the utility knife and/or Exacto knife, cut the center of the chip dish, which holds the dipping (see pictures)
2. Cutting the chip dish and water container takes about an hour; use the lighter to heat up the saw, utility knife, and Exacto knife to cut the materials easier; finally use the filer to remove any burrs and smooth off the edges
3. Place the top of the water container on top of the chip dish
4. Then place the 2 items in step 3 on top of the bottom of the water container
5. Place the whole assembled product on top of the piece of foil, which helps the reflect the sunlight; the solar energy and the reflecting of this solar energy will heat the container causing evaporation
6. Pour in salty/”dirty” water on the bottom section of the system and place the whole thing under the sun
7. The evaporated water condensates in the form of droplets trickles down the inner wall into the chip dish
8. By taking the chip dish apart from the system, the clean water can be poured into a water bottle, for example
Links:
1. www.watercone.com (Our main source of information; our inspiration for
our appropriate technology)
2. www.aqua-sun-intl.com/ (A more High-Tech solution to purify water)
3. www.greenhome.com (A website that sells environmentally friendly
products including a product like our solar water filter cone)
4. members.cox.net/ahicks51/osp/Technical_Data/solar_water/solar_water.html
(A moderately-cost, home solution to purify water using solar
engery)
5. www.target.com (This is where we bought all of our materials, and
surprisingly they sell reasonably priced water filters using various
methods; type in water filter in the search field)
6. www.greenhomes.com (Search engine for ways to improve your home
environment; type in water filter in the search field)
7. lushaninc.com/solar.htm (Another high-tech solution to filter water
using solar engergy, but can be very expensive)