Thermal Desalinator

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

A shortage of drinking water is a problem around the world. It is getting more serious due to a growing population and climate change (Rizvi,2017). Seawater desalination is an innovation that incorporates several procedures to remove salt and different minerals from seawater generated into fresh water. (Zhou, 2003). Thus, this technology is reliable and significant to those people suffering from scarcity in their country. This research study aimed to construct a small-scale innovative device that performed as desalination unit which transformed seawater into safe drinkable water to sustain the scarce freshwater and especially, available to those people near the coastal areas in Naic, Cavite.

METHODS

The researchers made a device for desalination (Thermal desalination), it was then used to treat seawater with the purpose of making it potable. The device was made by a small machine shop and was modified by the researchers to overcome some leakage problems. Seawater was poured unto the device and the machine was turned on, the treated water was collected from the device through a faucet on the second chamber.

RESULTS

The treated water was tested according to its color, pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, salinity, and fecal coliform to ensure its potability. A paired T-test is the statistical test used; it was used to compare the means of two values from the parameters (treated water and seawater). The results showed that there is a significant difference between the color, pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, salinity and fecal coliform of the water before and after the treatment.

DISCUSSIONS

The results showed that the device treated the water successfully, the treated water passed the standards for safe and potable water, and this means the device can be used by families as a freshwater source. It would lead to less plastic usage and cost reduction. The device can be particularly useful for coastal families since they have the most abundant source of seawater.