The present invention is related to a solar driven irrigation apparatus for converting contaminated water contained in a contaminated water body into distilled water and using said distilled water for irrigating the vegetation grown on the said irrigation apparatus, the solar driven irrigation apparatus comprising a cover in the form of a geometrical projection comprising a wall, an opening, a semi-permeable mesh, a soil layer and a chamber. The present invention also related to a process for irrigating natural vegetation using the solar driven irrigation apparatus.

A solar powered water purifier (1) having a main reservoir (2) for holding unpurified water (18), a collection tube (22) supported within the main reservoir and an inverted conical-shaped lid (11). The conical-shaped lid captures evaporated water from the main reservoir in the form of condensation and directs the condensation toward the collection tube for collection, which diverts water from to outside of the main reservoir for storage and/or use.

A hybrid photovoltaic panel-interfaced distillation with and without a hydrophobic microporous membrane distillation process is provided that is capable of utilizing solar waste heat to perform liquid distillation while co-generating solar electricity. Solar waste heat co-generated at a photovoltaic panel is effectively utilized by in situ distillation liquid as an immediate heat sink in thermo contact with the photovoltaic panel, thus providing beneficial cooling of the photovoltaic panel and co-making of distillation products while generating electricity with significant improvement on total-process solar energy utilization efficiency. Its enabled beneficial utilization of waste heat can provide a series of distillation-related products such as: freshwater, sea salts, distilled water, distilled ethanol, hot water, hot steam, saline/brine products, and brine photobiological cultures for production of advanced biofuels and bioproducts, in addition to solar electricity.

Liquid purification methods and apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a frame to define an interior space, the frame having an inner surface in contact with air of the interior space; a barrier positioned between a body of liquid and the interior space; and an absorber suspended from the frame to transfer liquid from the body of liquid into the interior space via an opening in the barrier.

A distillation apparatus includes an evaporator-condenser heat exchanger in combination with a compressor. The heat exchanger is mounted to float in an at least partially immersed position in a sump of liquid. The liquid may be a sap, or may be soiled water, and may have suspended solid. Heating of the liquid yield steam, the steam is compressed, and the heated, compressed steam is fed back into the heat exchanger to provide further heat to the liquid. The process yields a concentrated in the liquid bath and distilled water, each of which may be a desired product. The system may include a pre-heater that exchanges residual heat from the hot distillate with the cooler input liquid. The apparatus and process may have multiple stages.

The method serves to control substances present in a liquid; a liquid mass is brought to temperature and pressure conditions such as to give rise to an appreciable evaporation of the liquid mass; at least one solid surface is arranged, in part inside the liquid mass and in part outside the liquid mass so as to establish at least a meniscus of the liquid on this solid surface; the shape and/or the size and/or the extension and/or the position and/or the temperature of this meniscus is controlled so that the evaporation of the liquid through said meniscus is controlled; any deposition of these substances is also controlled.

Liquid purification methods and apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a frame to define an interior space, the frame having an inner surface in contact with air of the interior space; a barrier positioned between a body of liquid and the interior space; and an absorber suspended from the frame to transfer liquid from the body of liquid into the interior space via an opening in the barrier.

An evaporation-condensation system and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. The system may include a condensation surface having one or more wipers and a gas diffusion apparatus. The one or more wipers may be configured to move over the condensation surface to displace one or more of fouling material and condensed material that may be present on the condensation surface. The gas diffusion apparatus may include one or more anti-gas blades positioned substantially parallel to the condensation surface and one or more gas storage areas. The gas diffusion apparatus may be configured to guide an amount of vapor molecules towards the condensation surface and promote condensation of the vapor molecules by rotating the one or more anti-gas blades around a central axis and displacing an amount of non-condensable gas into the one or more gas storage areas.

A desalination system includes a vertical column with a lower end submerged into a body of liquid to be treated. The column has a dark-colored outer surface able to absorb electromagnetic energy, and at least one vacuum compressor is connected to provide a vacuum pressure in the vertical column such that the liquid is drawn into the vertical column through openings in the vertical column. A condensing dome has a main shell and that receives vapor of the liquid in the vertical column via a vapor port joining the vertical column and the condensing dome. A wind-driven outer turbine surrounds the main shell of the condensing dome and draws outside air into a space around the main shell of the condensing dome. A tank is connected to the condensing dome via a pipe and receives desalinated liquid from the condensing dome.

With the present invention, a portable water purification system for purifying salt water is provided. The said water purification system comprises a water purification capsule which is leakproof and in which vacuum is generated an evaporation member provided in the water purification capsule; and at least one condensation member provided in the water treatment capsule and positioned on the evaporation member. Thanks to the fact that the condensation member is located on the evaporation member dimensions of the water purification system are reduced while operational efficiency of the water purification system is kept high.