The Colony Follow-Up, Solar Water Pastuerization

by Brad
(Vegas)

Last February, I helped my next door neighbor (5th grader) with a solar water pasteurization project, using less than $10 worth of materials for the panel cooker, and an $8 turkey roaster. The setup is pictured, with various graphs and data that some may find useful. Even in February, with a clear sky, we could easily pasteurize the 13 lbs of water that fit into the roaster. Had the members of Discovery's "The Colony" TV show each had a few of these simple reflectors, they could have pasteurized all of the water they wished to use each day, or scaled up the setup with a water tank or 55-gallon barrel, painted black, enclosed in a large polycarbonate bag, etc. sitting inside of large reflectors or mirrors. A barrel moving cart would even have served as the perfect support device, since it is wheeled and allows one person to easily move the barrel with the movement of the day's sun (a gallon of water weighs approximately 8.34 pounds, 55 gallons weigh 55 x 8.34 = 458.7 pounds).

I'm currently cooking chicken on one of the toughest sun angle day's of the year, and will post when done.

Happy Holidays everyone.


_________________________________________


Thanks again for the great insight.

(I am currently cooking meatballs, hashbrowns and popcorn on one of the shortest days)

Yes, you are right again, but maybe your "problem" is that you are thinking with a heavy dose of common sense.

Besides, would your "spot on" ideas make for "compelling Television"?

Thanks for all of your efforts.

Happy Solar Cooking.

Nathan
Admin.