Charlie Morgan wrote:

On a boat it would be interesting to have a solar
powered distiller that used a focusing lense or
reflector to heat the sea-water. Does anyone make
such a device?

The problem with both parabolic concentrators and reflectors is that
they need to be on a solar-tracking mount to remain focused. Off angle,
they basically don't work. Using any type of prismatic or Fresnel
arrangement to widen the focusing angle just drops overall efficiency
dramatically. A boat's not necessarily the most stable platform for
keeping a concentrator focused...

Don W.


There are solar water distillers. An 8 square foot panel distills
about 1 gallon per day in strong sunlight.

Distilled water is not completely pure. Some VOC's can still (no pun
intened) be present. Running the water through a carbon filter after
distillation can remove those.

Carbon filters are basically bacterial growth media. If you use one,
use it *before* distillation, not after. Distilled water still has some
dissolved solids, metal ions, carbon, and unless the still incorporates
some form of cyclonic separation, may have bacterial endotoxins. In
reality, these residual levels are of no importance relative to drinking
water.

Keith Hughes