A new solar desalination system takes in saltwater and heats it with natural sunlight. The system flushes out accumulated salt, so replacement parts aren’t needed often, meaning the system could potentially produce drinking water that is cheaper than tap water.
  • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
    6·
    1 year ago

    Interesting if true. Could this be scaled up to be used for agriculture or would the design stop working if it got too large?

    • poVoq@slrpnk.netOPM
      7·
      1 year ago

      It’s basically just an optimized solar-still that avoids salt accumulation, so it is IMHO not really suitable for the massive amount of water agriculture usually needs.

    • perestroika@slrpnk.net
      3·
      1 year ago

      Reading the description, it’s 99% likely to be true - but scalability is a whole different matter, much harder to predict.

    • Spzi@lemm.eeEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Interesting if true.

      Yes, exactly both.

      would the design stop working if it got too large?

      I mean, then just make multiple units and combine them. Much like one Tesla car battery consists of 4680 battery cells. And since we don’t need desalination compact and mobile, it could be 4680 suitcase-sized units spread along the coast. The water output can easily be combined.

      But dealing with the Brine probably becomes a real challenge if scaled up, no matter how.

  • lefaucet@slrpnk.net
    5·
    1 year ago

    Might be really useful for costal areas that have their water systems knocked out. It might save some of the gajillion plastic bottles that are deployed in emergencies now.

    It looks pretty cheap to manufacture and could by done DIY.