Field Testing of a Solar Pasteurizer Prototype With Automated Flow Control
Abstract
Considering the global challenge of access to safe drinking water and the need to maximize the use of energy from renewable sources, solar water pasteurization emerges as a viable solution, achieving microbiological decontamination using solar radiation. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the operation and performance of an automated parabolic-trough solar pasteurizer. This is a quantitative, experimental, and descriptive research, in which field tests were conducted to assess the system’s effectiveness and productivity. The results confirmed the prototype’s ability to inactivate waterborne pathogens, making the water safe for human consumption. Additionally, the automated flow control system operated continuously for several hours, successfully processing 19 batches in just over two hours of operation.
Keywords
Solar pasteurization, SOPAS, Microbiological water decontamination, Parabolic trough collector, Renewable system application