A Global Access to Clean Water: Solar Panel Water Filtration
Katelyn Kim ’25
Natalie Poole ’25
As our climate changes, humans must acclimate to the new challenges our environment imposes on our society. Though the changes are infinite, our lack of access to global water is an ongoing global issue. Thus far, many inventions that purify our water rely on additional energy, electricity, and other resources. Prompted by the deficiency of filtration supplies many countries are facing, emerging scientists and designers have created solar-powered water filters for global usage.
Recently, a British industrial designer, Hans Ramzan, launched his latest product, “Stil,” which emphasizes its high usability, practicality, and user-friendliness (Stil, n.d.). Unlike current purifiers, “Stil” supplies individuals with clean water with no bacterial residue. The design solely relies on solar energy to boil water added into the container and collects the condensation - clean, distilled water - from the process (Torres, 2023). Another benefit of the design is the outer shell because it is composed of an opaque bamboo composite, a fast-growing eco-friendly substitute for trees. Moreover, Ramzan uses a Fresnel lens that can concentrate sunlight from all angles into a narrow beam, allowing solar energy to be absorbed entirely to heat the water (Fresnel Lens | Britannica, n.d.). With no additional electricity required, “Stil” is a purifier that works anywhere with sunlight. The product can produce over 12L of clean distilled water for a family of 6, making it an exceptional design for developing countries (Stil, n.d.).
Researchers at Princeton University have also created a design to target rural areas that lack clean water and electricity. The device is a technological invention called a “Solar Absorber Gel,” which can purify water with the energy generated from sunlight (Solar-Powered Water Purification, 2021). Different from “Stil,” the “Solar Absorber Gel” is inspired by pufferfish; similar to the animal, it absorbs water at room temperature and releases clean and distilled water after the filtration process (Solar-Powered Water Purification, 2021). Furthermore, the product is separated into three distinct layers. The first layer is a heat-responsive gel attaching the other two layers. In the second layer, a polydopamine (PDA) material allows heat from the sun to convert into energy. The last layer has alginate, which filters the metals and bacterial molecules infused in the water. Overall, the product is not only sufficient in filtering contaminants in water, but it also binds tightly with water molecules at the gel’s surface to form a hydration layer that repels oil and bacteria, allowing the device to be self-cleaning (Poore, 2023). Researchers hope to utilize the technology for future household usage to provide access to clean water without reliance on “energy from the grid” (Poore, 2023).
Discoveries with water filtration are being researched and developed continuously, with solar panels as a general sensation for new products regarding clean water accessibility. Through designs such as “Stil” and the “Solar Absorber Gel,” our global consciousness of providing clean water to everyone will continue to improve.
References
Fresnel lens | Britannica. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from
https://www.britannica.com/technology/Fresnel-lens
Poore, C. (2023, February 8). Solar-powered gel filters enough clean water to meet daily needs. Chemical and Biological Engineering.
Retrieved April 30, 2023, from
https://cbe.princeton.edu/news/solar-powered-gel-filters-enough-clean-water-meet-daily-needs
Solar-Powered Water Purification. (2021, April 23). Science in the News. Retrieved April 30,
2023, from https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2021/solar-powered-water-purification/
Stil. (n.d.). Hans Ramzan. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.hansramzan.com/portfolio/stil.php
Torres, J. (2023, March 4). Solar-powered Water Purifier is a completely sustainable way to get
clean water. Yanko Design. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from
