Solar Distiller Study for Freshwater Production by Seawater Desalination

Abstract

Water covers 70% of the planet Earth. Of the total volume of water on the planet, 2/3 (two-thirds) is in the form of ice or underground water. On the other hand, fresh water is an increasingly scarce resource in the world, with only 3% of the world's water being drinkable. Data from the United Nations (UN), indicate that approximately 1.1 billion inhabitants on planet Earth do not have access to fresh water. The same data also reveal that 2.7 billion inhabitants suffer from water scarcity for approximately one month a year. According to these data, water scarcity currently affects more than 40% of the world's population. This condition has driven the proposition of technological solutions to minimize the impact of difficulties in accessing this good [1]. Allied to all these aspects, in recent decades, industrial development and the growth of the world population have demanded a greater need for fresh water. At the same time, pollution and the reduction of surface water sources limit access to available freshwater resources [2]. Thus, there is a need for alternative water sources, leading to a focus on using previously technologies, with an emphasis on saltwater desalination. Many areas affected by freshwater scarcity are close to the sea, favoring implementing these technologies.