The ‘Solar Cucumber’ is an innovative desalination plant design with the potential to help water-starved communities in coastal environments. The solar-powered desalination unit turns seawater to drinkable freshwater at source, rather than miles away from the scene of a shortage. The mini bus unit uses multiple-effect humidification to evaporate and condense seawater while removing its salt content. Multiple-effect humidification replicates the normal environmental water cycle. In the case of the Solar Cucumber, it uses solar power and reverse osmosis to separate water from other substances, including salt. The system uses advanced non-stick-style materials to reduce maintenance and create an effectively self-cleaning system that produces fresh water and sea salt at source while reducing the need for costly and impractical transportation of water. In permanent off-shore installations, the Solar Cucumber’s anchor system would form part of an artificial reef encouraging the growth of local marine habitats and biodiversity.
+ Pauley
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