SOLAR POWERED DESALINATION WITH DIRECT HEAT TRANSFER

A solar-powered distillation process converts saline water into potable water and useful solid residues. A solid material is heated by solar energy, and the solid material is brought into direct contact with saline water. Some of the water becomes steam and vapor, which can be condensed to produce potable water. The water-soluble salts within the saline water are precipitated separately, and collected for commercial use. Scale formed on the solid material can be removed, and the solid material reheated by solar energy, and the reheated solid material can again be used to heat incoming saline water in a continuous process.