Telkes solar still

Full size 336 × 519 pixels THE SUN QUEEN Maria Telkes
Diagram for a simple solar distilling system intended for use on lifeboats at sea, using refracted sunlight to evaporate seawater, then collect the resulting fresh water for drinking.

Diagram for Telkes’ solar still, which produces fresh water from seawater. It eventually became standard equipment on every US Navy lifeboat, and was even “upscaled” to provide fresh drinking water for the Virgin Islands.
Image: Library of Congress