| 2021-WARS-69279 | |
| Researchers at Purdue University have developed a thermal desalination system with multiple novel components to improve efficiency. Most thermal desalination technologies operate at low temperatures. Also, high vapor flux thermal desalination technologies rely on a vacuum pump to maintain a vacuum, which consumes substantial electrical energy. The Purdue technology can operate at high temperatures and recover heat and water from rejected brine and does not require a vacuum pump. The capability of the system to operate at high temperature allows for the use of concentrated solar power and provides large amounts of energy for separation. Instead of using a vacuum pump, which is energy-intensive and requires maintenance, the system maintains the vacuum created by an upstream steam ejector to effect separation with a novel vapor selective membrane distillation unit. The efficiency is improved by making using of higher temperature heat to both provide enhanced water recovery, and create a partial vacuum that reduces the diffusion resistance of water vapor while also reducing heat losses. Additionally, the system can handle high-salinity feeds; a total dissolved solids concentration greater that 100,000 ppm can be accommodated. Advantages - operates at high temperatures - does not require a vacuum pump - recovers heat and water from rejected brine - accommodates high-salinity feeds Applications - thermal desalination Technology Validation: The system has a first-law efficiency of over 10, which is above that of most other thermal desalination technologies. |
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Nov 23, 2021
Utility Patent
United States
(None)
(None)
Nov 23, 2021
PCT-Patent
WO
(None)
(None)
Nov 24, 2020
Provisional-Patent
United States
(None)
(None)
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Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization The Convergence Center 101 Foundry Drive, Suite 2500 West Lafayette, IN 47906 Phone: (765) 588-3475 Fax: (765) 463-3486 Email: otcip@prf.org |
