Simple method to distill water using the free energy of the sun.... [video]

submitted by In-the-clouds from (video.twimg.com)

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[–]makesyoudownvote 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

Why not? In my experience it works even better than glass if the temperature is lower. Glass is too thermally conductive so the water doesn't get as hot.

I can't think of any available material that would be better than glass or plastic.

Glass does sometimes work a little better in temperatures over 90°F but you still usually need at least plastic for the seals anyways.

In my experience glass makes a better collection bottle, but clear plastic makes a great material for the evaporation tank.

[–]Musky 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Plastic leaches a lot of chemicals. The water won't be pure, although it won't exactly kill you.

[–]Zapped 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

In a survival situation, plastic is not a concern.

[–]Musky 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Oh sure, but I've wanted a solar still just for every day use. It doesn't have to be just for survival situations. We have a lot of ridiculously hot and bright days suited to a solar still here.

[–]Zapped 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I built a solar distiller for a for science class back in grade school, using wood, glass, and metal flashing. It was a slanted, 2-chamber style. Easy and cheap to make. Similar to this: https://www.offthegridnews.com/grid-threats/how-to-build-a-solar-powered-still-to-purify-drinking-water/ . The type used in OP's video would work in a survival situation if you could scavenge for the materials.

[–]Musky 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Very cool.

[–]makesyoudownvote 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

If you want a daily use solar distiller, your collection bottle or condensation coil should have a shade over it and/or something else to keep it cooler than the evaporation tank.

This is a short term survival distiller.

Also, if it's homemade at all you are still going to be most likely using plastic for seals and such. A BPA free Pom bottle isn't going to leach anything remotely significant in terms of chemicals compared to the rest of the distiller.

I'd still probably try to use glass though for the evaporation bottle if I was using it daily. The collection bottle could be glass, metal or even glazed ceramic, it shouldn't really matter.