this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2024
104 points (100.0% liked)

Ask Science

8598 readers
22 users here now

Ask a science question, get a science answer.


Community Rules


Rule 1: Be respectful and inclusive.Treat others with respect, and maintain a positive atmosphere.


Rule 2: No harassment, hate speech, bigotry, or trolling.Avoid any form of harassment, hate speech, bigotry, or offensive behavior.


Rule 3: Engage in constructive discussions.Contribute to meaningful and constructive discussions that enhance scientific understanding.


Rule 4: No AI-generated answers.Strictly prohibit the use of AI-generated answers. Providing answers generated by AI systems is not allowed and may result in a ban.


Rule 5: Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.Adhere to community guidelines and comply with instructions given by moderators.


Rule 6: Use appropriate language and tone.Communicate using suitable language and maintain a professional and respectful tone.


Rule 7: Report violations.Report any violations of the community rules to the moderators for appropriate action.


Rule 8: Foster a continuous learning environment.Encourage a continuous learning environment where members can share knowledge and engage in scientific discussions.


Rule 9: Source required for answers.Provide credible sources for answers. Failure to include a source may result in the removal of the answer to ensure information reliability.


By adhering to these rules, we create a welcoming and informative environment where science-related questions receive accurate and credible answers. Thank you for your cooperation in making the Ask Science community a valuable resource for scientific knowledge.

We retain the discretion to modify the rules as we deem necessary.


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

I under stand that the lower the air pressure, the lower the boiling point of water. Also, some primitive desalination kits are basically evaporators.

Could you make a really big tank without a bottom and paint it black. Then, submerge it partly in the ocean . Pump the air out of the top. The water would rise up into the tank, a bit, but not all the way.

You wouldn’t need to have a perfect vacuum, just lower the air pressure enough to make boiling easier. Let the sun heat the black tank, and viola, steam.

Collect that steam from the air you are pumping out of the top of your tank, and you’ve got fresh water, right?

Edit: nevermind. Found it on google. Leaving this here to display my shame.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Brokkr 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

The energy to change phase, the latent heat of vaporization, does decreases. Enough such that the ambient temperature is able to supply sufficient heat for vaporization (that is, boiling). The latent heat of vaporization is temperature and pressure dependent for most materials.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

I do agree that at some point ambient temperature does the job, which is obviously super convenient.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)
[–] Brokkr 1 points 9 months ago

I could have gotten it backwards. Depends on how the system is being defined and which direction the heat is going.