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Milan-based designer Gabriele Diamanti's "Eliodomestico" solar-powered eco-distiller was recently selected as one of 12 finalists for the Prix Émile Hermès 2011. The small, vat-like still is made entirely from terracotta and zinc-plated metal sheets, and, in keeping with the Italian designer's intention for "Eliodomestico" to be completely open source, "it's designed to be produced (and eventually repaired) by local craftsmen."
The project is conceived like an household: it works autonomously during the day, just in front of people's houses. Its design is inspired from archetypal forms and materials, because it has to be highly recognizable: as a matter of facts, one of the biggest problems in delivering technologies to the developing countries, is that usually the people doesn't understand them.
The device can produce up to five liters of drinking water per day through a direct solar-powered distillation process—i.e. no filters or electricity—making "Eliodomestico" nearly three times as efficient as existing solar stills of equal size.
The distiller is very easy to use: in the morning, simply fill the water tank with salty or dirty water from a local source, and in the evening collect clean, evaporated and re-condensed water in a portable recipient placed underneath the tank.
Of course, it can't stand up to the Trunz Water System 200... but that's kind of the point: that disaster relief and meeting the basic needs of those in developing countries are two sides of the same coin.
Comments
It's gorgeous and efficient, but the definition of "dirty water" needs to be tightened up a bit, because some sources are apparently not purified by the temperatures possible with solar distillation. Would love to know more about this aspect.
distilled water is very clean. Temperature is not what cleans it (although the temp's used will kill bacteria), it's that bad stuff is unlikely to travel through the phase-change of water-vapor-condensed water. It's clean enough to add to lead-acid batteries. Contamination (or re-contamination) is going to happen to water that is open, or is captured in a dirty container.
How about SODIS? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_disinfection
Thank you for the comments!
@Bill: I know the SODIS, but it's a good process only when you start from freshwater.
Salty water off course will be salty till the end of the SODIS process.
The main advantage (and target) of Eliodomestico is that you can start from seawater and turn it into freshwater.
If you start from freshwater (because you don't live close to the sea or a salty well), I think the SODIS will be more functional and cheaper.
Just a different target.
I stay in Africa and this product is amazingly simple to use. Where or how does one go about being able to purchase this product?
Where can I purchase one of these? Wonderful design! Thanks!
Great! Where can I get one in Indonesia or to reproduce it?
Is there any healthy issues to consume distilled water for long-term?
Hi Gabriele,
I would like to find out more about the product in terms of licencing and a commercial arrangement for south and central africa.
I would like to introduce these in Haiti and West Africa - how? Is there some source to connect with?
This is wonderful. How can I get details or plans. I live in Mexico in an area with water contaminated with chemicals ... they cannot be removed by filters or other methods. This is perfect and looks to be affordable for many in the poorer communities. Please let me know!