A Novel Solar Water Sterilization Design: Targeted to Provide Potable Water for a Community of 50 People

Abstract

An innovative solar sterilizer design to be fixed on the focus of concentrated solar parabolic dish collector (CSPDC) was presented. The specifications of CSPDC were 4.8 m diameter and 1.8 m focal point according to the manufacturer. With this size, the sterilization can be achieved at a flowrate of 2.2 l/min enough to satisfy the daily potable water requirement for a community of 50 people. The design was tested from the sample collected form Ain Arzat water spring in Dhofar region, Oman. The polluted water samples were tested chemically and biologically before and after using the solar sterilizer. It was found that all water samples are polluted biologically and cannot be directly consumed. By solar sterilization, the samples chemically become closer to the Omani Standards of the first quality level, thus making the design of the solar sterilizer a safe and cost-effective tool for water sterilization.