Comments on: Evaporation-based Water Purifier Cone

By: Eric Wade

Eric Wade — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:18:34 +0000

I have researched this a little. From what I have read, drinking distilled water may help in cleansing your insides. I do know you need the minerals from regular drinking water but you can also get this from eating fruit, vegetables and other drinks not made with distilled water. There must be some groups of people who in the past or even now drink rain water which is also distilled and they survive. I think people can live a healthy life drinking it. At least, I hope so because I am devoting a lot of my time into this gadget and want people to benefit. But if I am proven wrong then I will scrap the thing.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:48:11 +0000

It would not be healthy to rely on purified water as a source of drinking water. Your body needs the minerals that occur naturally in surface and groundwater and the minerals give the water taste. Drinking too much purified water can be harmful to your health.

By: Dan (EnviroGadget Writer)

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:40:11 +0000

That’s a correct assumption. Evaporated (and condensed) water, to all intents and purposes, is pure.

Dan

By: Em

Em — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:13:34 +0000

Hi there, just wanted to comment on fluoridated drinking water. It is my understanding that this device would be affective for defluoridating drinking water, that the fluoride ions would be left in the waste water. Please correct me if this is not an accurate assumption.
Thanks, Em

By: Hristo

Hristo — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:22:55 +0000

Just want to add/correct that it actually makes sea water drinkable. Salt does not evaporate with water. I am pretty sure I also saw it in one of the videos of that product.

By: Eric Wade

Eric Wade — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:12:05 +0000

Dan, I’m not sure the original designer would be happy that I am basically trying to make a ‘knock-off’ of his design.
But thinking of the volume of the ‘watercone’ I think the larger the surface area of the pan and roof but smaller volume inside would accelerate condensation. If the volume is smaller then the air would become super-saturated with water vapour faster and more likely to condensate. I think.

By: Dan (EnviroGadget Writer)

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:45:48 +0000

Eric, you’ll need to experiment on each of those parameters.

1. No idea, but I imagine that surface area plays a part. I think 45 to 60 degrees might be worth trying.

2. You need a large water collection chamber, and large surface area helps with more space for condensation. That’s about it I guess.

3. Condensation occurs when one side is cooler than the other. The inside will be warmer due to the greenhouse effect.

Might I suggest you contact the original designer though? I’m only guessing with these answers.

Dan

By: Eric Wade

Eric Wade — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:22:02 +0000

Hi Dan.

I am going to Bali, Indonesia in a week and trying to get a glass blower to make a ‘watercone’. I am not a scientist but I am wondering:

1. What is the optimal angle for the ceiling of the ‘watercone’ to promote condensation?

2. How does the volume inside the ‘watercone’ compared to both the surface area of the ceiling and surface area of the pan holding the water change the effectiveness of the ‘watercone’?

3. What kinds of glass are better able to conduct heat? The inside of the ‘watercone’ would need to be as hot as possible to evaporate the water but the glass needs to be cool to promote condensation.

Eric

By: Dan (EnviroGadget Writer)

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:26:48 +0000

Hi Eric

Don’t forget that the glass will need to be pretty thick to be robust, plus a large surface area to be effective. I would expect the glass to be very heavy, around 5 to 10kg!

Dan

By: Eric Wade

Eric Wade — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:41:16 +0000

I think glass is the way to go. I think people would be careful handling them if their supply of drinking water relied on them. And glass handles could be put on them, maybe a rubber base coating so they dont shatter. What about having the pan more elevated in the bottom with a boyant substance underneath. The glass part that receives condensation would dip below the pan. The Watercone could be floated in the sea or a lake and the contact of the glass with the cooler outer water could cool the glass and speed up or enhance condensation.
I am thinking of asking a glass blower to make one for me.