New Pond Distillation system – Using solar heat!
Francisco Suarez is developing an artificial salt-gradient stratification process that traps solar heat at the bottom of the solar pond and uses the collected energy to power a membrane distillation system. (Credit: Mike Wolterbeek)
Yes that’s right! A team of researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno have developed a pond distillation system that is based entirely on the energy of the sun. Read on to find out more.
Our sun is a big ball of fire, constantly spewing out enormous amounts of energy that support almost all life on earth. So ever wondered why we weren’t doing more to make use of all this energy? Well we sure did!
The new invention?
A pond distillation system designed to desalinate water (remove excess salt and minerals from water) in lakes around the world where an increase in evaporation and other natural processes cause an increase in salinity levels of the water.
So what’s the big deal?
The big deal is that this system is based entirely on solar heat for energy! And that as you know is renewable energy!
How does it work?
The system traps solar heat at the bottom of the solar ponds and uses the collected energy to power the membrane distillation system. It can operate 24 hours a day using stored energy.
Anything else I should be impressed by?
Well… the system is based on renewable energy and is low maintenance as we have already told you. If that’s not good enough here’s more. The hot brine (salt water) in the lower storage zone of the pond can reach temperatures greater than 195 degrees Fahrenheit, and this can be used directly for heating, thermal desalination, or for other low-temperature thermal applications as well!
via: EurekAlert!
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