In the Hamdard University (HU), Karachi, the solar powered water desalination plant is introduced by the Energy Engineering Department, in order to handle the problems in Pakistan of Drinking water shortage.

The Chairman of the department, engineer Akmal Hassan, under his supervision, the students Aziz Rasheed and Hamza Asgher developed the plant.

As according to Aziz, with silicon, a fine quality of glass is used, which is after cutting is fixed in pyramid shape.

Explaining the process of the plant, he told that “Two steel trays have fixed together in form of large tray in such a way that two separate ways for flow of polluted and desalinated water could be developed. Polluted water enters in central tray through PVP pipe where it changes into vapors due to sunlight. The vapors gather at glass walls where they turn into water drops again which flow through walls to outer tray where desalinated water is collected through PVP pipe.”

It is viewed by Aziz that for the purpose of drinking and daily usage, this water could be used.

The power shortage of the country, keeping that in mind, then the solar desalinated plants as according to Aziz, are the best alternate for electrical plants.

Expertise abroad was not sought, as it was designed by the University’s students themselves. Costing only Rs2500, all parts of the plants can be obtained in any local market. This very easy to use and low cost prototype plant in 12 hours can desalinate 24 liters of water.