A Victorian company, F Cubed, has developed a world first in solar water desalination with a maintenance-free system that operates on solar energy.
F Cubed chief executive officer Peter Johnstone said the system should not need any maintenance over its lifetime with polycarbonate sheeting and panels providing a working life of 20 years.
Being a modular unit the Carocell system can be installed as a single panel for a family or in multiplied units for larger production volumes, based on your water requirements. It provides a flexible solution which allows the opportunity for additional units to be add on at a later date if required.
Mr Johnstone said the panels had a solar efficiency of 65 per cent which was double anything that had been achieved before using a direct solar distillation system.
One of the unique traits of the Carocell units is that they are not reliant on filters or membranes. This allows the system to process any water type including waste water, which previously could only be sent to evaporation ponds.
According to Mr Johnstone, water issues were a global concern and the development of the Carocell system provided a solution.
“It is surprising how other government’s have had a positive position in taking up alternative solutions in this area compared to Australia,” he said. “We have more overseas interest and have been asked to consider moving our production plant overseas.”
WA manufacturer Wayne Phillips has underground and scheme water on his 6.5 hectare rural property at Clackline but with varying water quality he installed a F Cubed system three months ago.
“We like to rely on our own bore water for washing and domestic appliances but we don’t drink it,” Mr Phillips said.
“You can drink the scheme water but it’s not the best.”
Not only can the hint of salt or chlorine interfere with its taste but his water bill even contains a disclaimer saying the water may not be drinkable.
“We don’t want to drink potentially contaminated water,” Mr Phillips.
