M.I.T. researchers develop portable solar desalination syst

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology designed a portable water desalination system designed for emergency use and for far-flung areas where drinkable water is scarce.

Though designed initially for servicing emergency situations, the technology can also be used in remote areas where supplying energy and clean water can be logistically complex and expensive, the researchers said.

During emergencies such as rescue operations or disaster situations, access to both water and power is limited.

During emergencies such as rescue operations or disaster situations, access to both water and power is limited.

The team from the institute’s Field and Space Robotics Laboratory said the solar-powereddesalination system can be rapidly deployed.

Led by Steven Dubowsky, a professor in the department of mechanical engineering and the department of aeronautics and astronautics, the group built a small prototype that demonstrated the system’s capability to produce 80 gallons of water daily in a variety of weather conditions.

The team estimated that a larger version of the unit, which can cost about $8,000 to assemble, can provide about 1,000 gallons of water per day.

The system relies on reverse osmosis, a filtration method that removes molecules and ions such as salt from solutions by applying pressure to the fluid as it flows over a permeable membrane.

This process begins as photons, or particles of light from the sun, fall onto a solar photovoltaic panel and excite electrons in the PV cells. This activity generates electric power that pushes seawater through various pumps until it is sent — at extremely high pressure — into a vessel that has a permeable membrane made of polymer material.

As a result of the high pressure, the water that diffuses through the membrane has had minerals removed.

The project is part of a joint research collaboration between the M.I.T. and the King FahdUniversity of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. It is funded through the Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy.

Source:   EcoSeed