The Seawater Greenhouse has a specific function - to produce fresh water and cool air while allowing maximum light penetration. The choice of materials is guided by the level of performance required - and cost. Various specifications of Seawater Greenhouse are available.
Low-cost solutions give excellent results. The design requires a light steel structure with polythene covering, cardboard evaporators and a plastic condenser. ABS and MDPE plastics are used for plumbing. Polythene films are cheap and effective. They are specially treated to incorporate ultraviolet-reflecting and infrared-absorbing properties and can be 100% recycled at the end of their useful life.
The cardboard evaporators are strengthened by a surprisingly effective process. They crystallise calcium carbonate from the sea water and harden like sea shells. The process is controllable and the results indicate that the life of the evaporators can be extended almost indefinitely.
The normal procedure for a new market is the provision of a 'starter pack' of components for the first structure, with the options of continued supply or investigation of a local sourcing programme for subsequent structures.
Our policy is geared to local sourcing and the provision of the working structure at the lowest possible cost. The structure can be erected quickly and relatively inexpensively and many of the required components are widely available. Design and commissioning is carried out by the Seawater Greenhouse team.
