Development of Low Cost Micro-Solar Still

A Micro Solar Still (MSS) is a technology that produces freshwater by utilizing the sun`s energy. It is a Multi-Stage Desalination process that evaporates and condenses the supplied water with highly efficient solar heat collectors. Unlike existing technologies, the proposed MSS recycles wasted latent heat for increased productivity. Furthermore, it utilizes a low cost and effective latent heat transfer material composed of black dyed polyester fabric laminated to a polyethylene terephthalate film (PET), which takes the shape of an origami structure. Although MSS systems have been previously studied, their market penetration remains weak due to the relatively high production costs.
A prototype ofthe proposed MSS was developed and tested in Korea under a limited scope and execution time. As a result, it can not be generalized for direct implementation in Kuwait. Thus, we will continue to develop and modify the system under two different sites (i.e. coastal and desert) to cover a substantial range of Kuwait`s environmental weather conditions to assure no impact on production rate, quality of water, and the proposed materials. Once proven competitive, a transfer of technology will be advocated in relevant applications as a cost effective environmentally friendly source of freshwater production. The duration of this project will be 18 mo, with a total estimated budget of KD 91,470