Abstract
This disclosure describes the Pure-Water System #30, a low-cost, solar-powered desalination unit designed for humanitarian and field deployment that processes seawater or brackish water (35k ppm TDS input) to potable standards (< 500 ppm TDS) at 9 L/min continuous output using vortex flow enhancement, electrochemical pre-treatment, and self-cleaning zeolite regeneration without membranes or chemical additives. The system integrates a vortex chamber for cavitation-induced shear cleaning, aluminum electrochemical plates spaced at 1 cm for flocculant generation, a zeolite trap for heavy metal/scale capture with automated backflush regeneration via ultrasonic cavitation, and dual 200W solar panels with Victron MPPT charge controller powering a 24V DC pump and electronics stack. Total system cost is $1,453 per unit (65% below commercial SeaWater Pro equivalents), with zero ongoing consumables and maintenance limited to quarterly plate swaps. The vortex action provides continuous self-cleaning of all surfaces, eliminating membrane fouling—the primary failure mode of reverse osmosis portables. The unit weighs 28 kg, fits in a Pelican-style case, and operates from -20°C to +55°C. Output water meets WHO standards (pH 6.5–8.5, TDS < 500 ppm, no detectable pathogens post-EC kill). Scalable to 1M L/day by stacking modules. The disclosure includes complete BOM ($1,453), wiring diagram, vortex chamber CAD specs (15 cm dia., 7075-T6 Al), EC plate configuration (12V, 5A), solar integration, and field maintenance protocol. CERN-OHL-P license
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Caldwell, Michael Victor Mr., "Pure-Water System #30: Vortex-Enhanced Solar Desalination Unit for Humanitarian Deployment", Technical Disclosure Commons, (February 25, 2026)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/9389