Epiphany Solar Water Systems has developed a concentrated solar powered (CSP) system that answers the water and energy problem with a solution that can provide clean water from contaminated or sea water in volumes from 100 to 100,000 gallons per day (GPD) economically and reliably. The most basic Epiphany system uses direct solar energy to power a proprietary multi-stage water distillation system, which is installed at the focal point of a parabolic solar collector dish. Also available is a solar/electric hybrid unit, which combines the reliability of a conventional distillation unit with the energy efficiency of concentrated solar power.
Since its conception, Epiphany SWS has completed fabrication of various successful beta units with pilot field testing completed by the end of 2013. Epiphany SWS’ Beta hybrid unit was unveiled at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, concurrent with the release of the non-profit organization, Project EviivE. Project EviivE’s sole purpose is to provide water purification systems to developing communities worldwide.
Furthermore, the system’s modular design allows for easy scaling and adaptation to a variety of environments ranging from remote villages to small municipalities. The units are well suited to distill both contaminated and salt/sea water. This unit is the ideal solution for small villages, Military, and Emergency Management (DHS/FEMA) applications.
Epiphany’s product is designed to be modular, robust, and lightweight. To keep construction and manufacturing simple, Epiphany’s units utilize common off the shelf (COTS) components. These components can be sourced anywhere in the world, simplifying maintenance and routine service greatly. In fact, great care has been taken so that an Epiphany solar water system can be assembled by virtually anyone, anywhere on the planet, regardless of skill level. Installation time is designed to take under 1 hour and with more skilled labor can be done in as little as 30 minutes. Epiphany’s product has a low total cost of ownership and will need only occasional cleaning to remove buildup of particulates within the distillation units. This is a simple process that can be done by anyone with standard, easily accessible maintenance tools, such as a wire b
rush.Desalination is a viable solution but conventional desalination technologies, such as Reverse Osmosis and Multi Effect Distillation, are expensive, energy intensive, and unsustainable. Furthermore, due to the centralized nature of conventional desalination plants, immense infrastructure projects are required to provide energy to the desalination plants and to distribute the clean water to consumers.