Solar Vapor Generation System Operating without Power Supply

Abstract

We report an efficient and cheap method used to purify/desalinate water by combining porous paper, carbon black powder, and polystyrene foam. The properties of paper dyed with carbon black are then characterized by UV-VIS, SEM, and infrared camera analysis. The evaporation rate of 0.7 kg/m2.h was obtained when the system operated for 4 hours in the outdoor environment on sunny-cloudy days in Ho Chi Minh City and Ninh Thuan Provinces, Vietnam. The thermal insulation of polystyrene foam prevents the radiative adsorption of the bulk water and lessens the heat loss due to convection, increasing thermal efficiency. The system operates without a power supply and facilitates utilizing cheap and environmentally friendly materials, lessening the burden of a shortage of water in the rural areas.