First uses of new solar energy technology: Killing germs on medical, dental instruments

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RSSfeed Registered Users Posts: 3,810 ✭✭
A revolutionary new solar energy technology that turns water into steam without boiling the entire container of water has become the basis for new devices to sanitize medical and dental instruments and human waste in developing countries, scientists say.97KosdLe8I0

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  • bill von novak
    bill von novak Solar Expert Posts: 891 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: First uses of new solar energy technology: Killing germs on medical, dental instrume
    RSSfeed wrote: »
    A revolutionary new solar energy technology that turns water into steam without boiling the entire container of water has become the basis for new devices to sanitize medical and dental instruments and human waste in developing countries

    Or you could just leave them in the sun . . . UV and heat are great sterilizers. Low tech though.
  • inetdog
    inetdog Solar Expert Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: First uses of new solar energy technology: Killing germs on medical, dental instrume
    Or you could just leave them in the sun . . . UV and heat are great sterilizers. Low tech though.
    FWIW, it does seem like a good thing that it does not involve heating a large quantity of water to the point of at least boiling and maybe superheating. That could lead to some interesting energy releases.

    UV will not get into all of the parts of a complex shape, and may damage some plastics, etc that can tolerate steam temperatures.
    Heat is good, but unless it gets to the boiling point of water, you cannot be sure it will kill bacteria, viruses and most particularly spores.
    Some non-living infectious agents like prions can even survive boiling indefinitely, but that sort of hazard is rare.

    And it definitely is a new technology, and I am waiting to see where it goes. :)
    SMA SB 3000, old BP panels.