KOCHI: The first phase of ‘Showing the sunlight ceremony’ of the solar distillation project was inaugurated by Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany at the Rajagiri engineering college campus here on Friday. Director of the Indo-German energy programme J Burgtorf, Thrikkakara municipal chairman Muhammad Ali, RSET director Fr Jose Alex, principal J Isaac and Fr Varghese Panthalookaran were present.
Solar distillation works on the principle of ‘artificial rain’. Hot air from the solar collector is humidified by enhanced evaporation. The saturated air is then condensed to get pure distilled water. The final goal of the Solar Distillation Project, sponsored by ONGC, is the construction of a cost-effective and efficient solar distillation unit incorporating native technology like earthen pots and built on locally available materials, which shall be suitable for the tropical wet climate zone of India, comprising the coastal regions and off-shores of Indian subcontinent.
Later, J Burgtorf held discussions with the councillors and officials on the possible collaborative programmes with the German Government.