Solar Distillation for Potable Water Provision in Remote Regions: Implementation of Inclined-Angle Solar Stills on the Galápagos Islands

• 발행기관: 적정기술학회
• 저자명: Moritz Paul Frey José Jara-Alvear Maximilian Martin
• 간행물 정보: 『적정기술학회지』Vol.11 No.2, 53~73쪽, 전체 21쪽
• 주제분류: 공학 > 기타공학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2025.08.30

국문 초록

Freshwater scarcity challenges remote regions like the species-rich, fragile ecosystem of the Galápagos Islands. This study investigates the feasibility of using inclined-angle solar stills for sustainable water distillation in that setting. Two prototypes were constructed: a low-cost model (#proto1) mostly using readily available materials and an improved model (#proto2) featuring higher-quality components. The objective was to assess the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and practicality of these systems in providing clean drinking water. Experimental results revealed that #proto2 clearly outperformed #proto1 by producing 505 ml/day compared to 269 ml/day, despite limited solar exposure (2.09 hours/day). The cost of freshwater was determined to be $0.016 per liter for #proto2. In consideration of the shorter lifespan of the low-cost prototype, the more expensive #proto2 delivering higher yields is also economically superior in the long term. In the village of Puerto Ayora, savings of $1.68 per person could be achieved with a weekly investment of 35 minutes of labor by utilizing a solar still for the provision of drinking water. This work demonstrates that solar stills offer a promising, low-tech solution for potable water production in remote areas, though their economic competitiveness remains limited in financially stronger regions. The study recommends further research into scalability, efficiency optimization, and long-term performance of solar distillation systems.

목차

HIGHLIGHTS

NOMENCLATURE

INTRODUCTION

METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

References

키워드

desalination energy efficiency Galápagos Islands inclined angle passive solar still potable water distillation solar radiation