“Solar Sponge” offers a completely new approach to solar steam generation
MIT engineers have invented a bubble-wrapped, sponge-like device which can soak up sunlight to generate steam through its pores.
Researchers call the design a “solar vapour generator”. It does not require expensive mirrors or lenses to concentrate the sunlight and instead relies on the combination of low-tech materials to capture ambient sunlight and concentrate it as heat.
This heat can then be directed toward the pores of the sponge, which draw water up and release it as steam.
On an overcast day, the researchers placed the sponge on the roof of MIT’s Building 3. They found that the structure was still able to heat water past 100 degrees Celcius to produce steam.
Applications for this low-tech design could range from wastewater treatment to desalination and residential water heating or medical sterilisation.
read more: http://www.borntoengineer.com/solar-sponge-offer-completely-new-approach-solar-steam-generation/
Nice invention, It will definitely lower the cost of desalination of water. Most of all it is environmental friendly. Thanks for sharing the info with us @nkdk
Process of generation of steam following: the sponge is located in the cylinder with water, sunshine heat the top layer of graphite and generate enough heat for to evaporate water.