Patent ID: 8083902

Claim:
An evaporative desalination system, comprising: an inclined housing having a raised upper end and a lower end, the inclined housing defining a sealed open interior region therein, the housing having an optically transparent upper wall, wherein said inclined housing includes a lower wall and at least one sidewall; a stand having opposed upper and lower ends, the upper end supporting the raised upper end of said inclined housing; a plurality of stepped evaporator trays mounted within the inclined housing, the median height between each of the trays and the upper wall being substantially equal, wherein each said evaporator tray is formed from a thermally conductive material and includes means for selectively heating each said evaporator tray; a plurality of thermally conductive fins mounted within each of said stepped evaporator trays and extending substantially laterally across the corresponding one of the stepped evaporator trays; a water collection tray disposed within the inclined housing adjacent the lower end thereof; an insulating layer formed between said plurality of evaporator trays and the lower wall of said inclined housing, and between said water collection tray and the lower wall of said inclined housing; and means for selectively filling the plurality of stepped evaporator trays with salt water; wherein ambient light transmitted through the optically transparent upper wall causes the salt water contained within the plurality of stepped evaporator trays to evaporate and thereafter when condensed will drip, under the force of gravity toward the lower end of the inclined housing to collect in the water collection tray.