Have you ever wondered if seawater could be transformed into drinkable water more affordably than what’s available from your tap? Engineers at MIT and in China have developed a solar-powered device that might do just that.
The team has created a passive system that uses the sun’s energy to heat saltwater, causing it to evaporate and leave the salt behind. The water vapor then condenses into fresh, drinkable water. What sets this device apart is its ability to prevent salt from building up and clogging the system—a common problem in other designs.
How Does It Work?
The device mimics a natural process similar to how water circulates in the ocean. When seawater is heated by the sun, it evaporates, and the remaining saltwater becomes denser and sinks. This movement creates small swirling currents, which the device harnesses to keep the salt moving and prevent it from settling.
Inside the device, water flows through layers where it is heated and evaporated. The vapor then moves to a cooler area where it condenses into fresh water. The leftover salt continues to circulate and exit the system without causing blockages.
Impressive Results
Tests show that a system the size of a small suitcase could produce 4 to 6 liters of drinking water per hour and operate for several years before needing new parts. This means the device could supply enough water for a small family’s daily needs, all without using electricity.
Lenan Zhang, a research scientist at MIT, mentioned that water produced by this method could be cheaper than tap water. This breakthrough could be especially helpful for remote coastal communities with easy access to seawater but limited resources.
Imagine a village without reliable access to clean drinking water. With this device, residents could set up a simple system that uses sunlight to provide fresh water throughout the day. This could significantly improve living conditions and reduce the burden of fetching water from distant sources.
The team has been refining their design over time. Earlier versions faced challenges like salt accumulation, which reduced efficiency. By studying natural ocean processes, they developed a new design that combines previous concepts and solves these issues.
Solar-powered system offers a route to inexpensive desalination. (2022, February 14). MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://news.mit.edu/2022/solar-desalination-system-inexpensive-0214
