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Eliodomestico Solar Household Still by Gabriele Diamanti
Milan-based designer Gabriele Diamanti's "Eliodomestico" solar-powered eco-distiller was recently selected as one of 12 finalists for the Prix Émile Hermès 2011. The small, vat-like still is made entirely from terracotta and zinc-plated metal sheets, and, in keeping with the Italian designer's intention for "Eliodomestico" to be completely open source, "it's designed to be produced (and eventually repaired) by local craftsmen."
The project is conceived like an household: it works autonomously during the day, just in front of people's houses. Its design is inspired from archetypal forms and materials, because it has to be highly recognizable: as a matter of facts, one of the biggest problems in delivering technologies to the developing countries, is that usually the people doesn't understand them.
The device can produce up to five liters of drinking water per day through a direct solar-powered distillation process—i.e. no filters or electricity—making "Eliodomestico" nearly three times as efficient as existing solar stills of equal size.The distiller is very easy to use: in the morning, simply fill the water tank with salty or dirty water from a local source, and in the evening collect clean, evaporated and re-condensed water in a portable recipient placed underneath the tank.
Of course, it can't stand up to the Trunz Water System 200... but that's kind of the point: that disaster relief and meeting the basic needs of those in developing countries are two sides of the same coin.
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I love how this is made especially to fit a particular community. I mean, the whole design says a lot about the target consumers. I'm glad they thought of a design that's ingenious, functional and easy to use. I'm a little surprised though that this is actually more cost-efficient than a normal still. Regardless, I still believe people ought to know about the downside of using this type of distiller. Like how it's not able to get rid of some types of contaminants. This way we're not only helping people get the water they need, we're also making sure that they get the best quality. My article about solar water distillation explains more on that point. So, I'd love to share it to anyone interested in this type of technology. You can read my article at this link: http://all-about-water-filters.com/ultimate-guide-to-solar-water-distillation/
I would like to find out more about the product in terms of licencing and a commercial arrangement for south and central africa.
Is there any healthy issues to consume distilled water for long-term?
@Bill: I know the SODIS, but it's a good process only when you start from freshwater.
Salty water off course will be salty till the end of the SODIS process.
The main advantage (and target) of Eliodomestico is that you can start from seawater and turn it into freshwater.
If you start from freshwater (because you don't live close to the sea or a salty well), I think the SODIS will be more functional and cheaper.
Just a different target.