Patent ID: 7955478

Claim:
A method for creating distilled liquid from contaminated liquids using solar radiation, comprising: (a) providing a machine comprising: (i) a substantially vertical, tubular evaporation apparatus to provide a liquid concentrate region below a feed liquid region, wherein said evaporation apparatus comprises an outer tube and an inner tube of smaller outside dimension relative to said outer tube located concentrically within said outer tube, whereby said outer tube and said inner tube form a longitudinal annulus for feed liquid to react with solar radiation, and wherein said outer tube is substantially transparent and comprises wire embedded within and/or affixed to the surface of said outer tube, (ii) a base located at a lower end of said evaporation apparatus, (iii) a cap structure located at an upper end of said evaporation apparatus, (iv) a means for feed liquid to enter said feed liquid region within said evaporation apparatus, (v) a means for liquid concentrate to exit said evaporation apparatus from said liquid concentrate region, (vi) a means for vapor to exit said evaporation apparatus, and (vii) at least one tension member that connects said base to said cap structure, thereby creating substantially watertight seals at said base and said cap structure of said evaporation apparatus, and (b) providing at least one solar reflector device located in relation to said evaporation apparatus so as to direct reflected solar radiation to a point or line coincident with the outside of said evaporation apparatus, (c) introducing feed liquid into said evaporation apparatus, wherein the feed liquid enters the feed liquid region of the apparatus and is heated by the solar radiation, such that evaporation ensues and distillate is formed, (d) drawing off distillate formed by the evaporation process, and (e) draining the liquid concentrate from the liquid concentrate region.