This looks interesting. But I wonder how efficient it is.
The claim is that water can be produced for 20Wh/l, which is 72kJ/l. This page states that the theoretical energy input needed is 3kJ/l, and that "present day desalination plants use 5 to 26 times as much as this theoretical minimum depending on the type of process used". So this suitcase-sized unit seems to work at the lower end of the current efficiency of bigger plants.
But I suppose it's useful for one or two individuals, if you have a solar panel and no other access to water.
Portable desalination unit
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Portable desalination unit
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Re: Portable desalination unit
Desalination at any major scale is potentially problematic, as the non drinkable discharge is more concentrated brine that can be harmful to the local environment, particularly if its higher density means that it smothers the local seabed, which it is likely to do if simply returned to the sea by a pipe.sTeamTraen wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 2:20 pmThis looks interesting. But I wonder how efficient it is.
The claim is that water can be produced for 20Wh/l, which is 72kJ/l. This page states that the theoretical energy input needed is 3kJ/l, and that "present day desalination plants use 5 to 26 times as much as this theoretical minimum depending on the type of process used". So this suitcase-sized unit seems to work at the lower end of the current efficiency of bigger plants.
But I suppose it's useful for one or two individuals, if you have a solar panel and no other access to water.
But yes, I could see it has potential, for example, if lifeboats were fitted with a solar panel and one of those
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Re: Portable desalination unit
There have been portable desalination units for decades running on reverse osmosis. Is this really better? I seems it's complicated and requires electric power.
If you have plenty of sunshine there are solar stills that work well including ad hoc hole on the ground and plastic sheet types.
If you have plenty of sunshine there are solar stills that work well including ad hoc hole on the ground and plastic sheet types.
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Re: Portable desalination unit
There’s a project somewhere on the Arabian peninsula running seawater through greenhouses so that evaporation produces water for the plants.Boustrophedon wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 3:06 pmThere have been portable desalination units for decades running on reverse osmosis. Is this really better? I seems it's complicated and requires electric power.
If you have plenty of sunshine there are solar stills that work well including ad hoc hole on the ground and plastic sheet types.
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Re: Portable desalination unit
It would be pretty useful for remote fieldwork as well, instead of having to fit 3 months of bottled water in a canoe or whatever. Probably medical facilities and other stuff too
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Re: Portable desalination unit
I guess if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere with little to drink - but you have one of these, then . . . urine luck!
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