Claims
- 1. A solar distillation unit comprising:
a tray with an insulated outer surface; a layer of coal particles lining an inner surface of the tray; means for admitting water into the tray as needed to maintain a predetermined water level in the tray; an outer gutter adjacent to a perimeter of the tray and sloped toward a water outlet; an inner channel forming an insulating gap between the tray and the gutter; a greenhouse covering with a bottom portion resting in said gutter; and an outer metallic skirt attached to said bottom portion of the greenhouse covering and extending outwardly therefrom.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coal particles are anthracite less than about 3 mm in nominal diameter.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said greenhouse covering is formed essentially of glass.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tray is made of stainless steel.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said skirt is made of stainless steel.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a charcoal filter coupled to said means for admitting water into the tray.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a distilled water container connected to said water outlet.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said container is made of tinted glass to reduce its light transmissivity.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for venting said greenhouse covering.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a silicone filling in said inner channel.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an outer channel providing an isolating gap between the gutter and an exterior environment.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said skirt extends over said outer channel.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said greenhouse covering includes two flat panes of glass that form an included angle therebetween of at most about 120 degrees.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least 98% of an interior surface of the solar distillation unit consists of glass, silicone, coal, or stainless steel.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising titanium-laden magnetite mixed with said coal particles.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
means for venting said greenhouse covering; a charcoal filter coupled to said means for admitting water into the tray; a distilled water container connected to said water outlet; an outer channel providing an isolating gap between the gutter and an exterior environment; and a silicone filling in said inner channel; wherein said skirt extends over said outer channel, said coal particles are anthracite less than about 3 mm in nominal diameter, said greenhouse covering is formed essentially of glass, and said tray and skirt are made of stainless steel.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising titanium-laden magnetite mixed with said coal particles; wherein said greenhouse covering includes two flat panes of glass that form an included angle therebetween of at most about 120 degrees, and wherein at least 98% of an interior surface of the solar distillation unit consists of glass, silicone, coal, or stainless steel.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on U.S. Ser. No. 09/589,138, filed Jun. 7, 2000, which was based on U.S. Provisional Serial No. 60/174,341, filed Jan. 4, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60174341 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09589138 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
10283763 |
Oct 2002 |
US |