MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
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Re: MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
#2Probably the first time "efficient" and "shockwave-based" have appeared together in a Hacker News headline ;)
Re: MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
#3Probably the first time "efficient" and "shockwave-based" have appeared together in a Hacker News headline ;)
They had a flash of inspiration
Re: MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
#4Unfortunately
Initially at least, this process would not be competitive with methods such as reverse osmosis for large-scale seawater desalination. But it could find other uses in the cleanup of contaminated water, Schlumpberger says.
But it could help to make portable desalination modules:
Unlike some other approaches to desalination, he adds, this one requires little infrastructure, so it might be useful for portable systems for use in remote locations, or for emergencies where water supplies are disrupted by storms or earthquakes.
Re: MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
#5He patented this five years ago.[1] Here's the 2015 paper.[2]
Flow rates are very, very low. Note the reference to the fluid source being a "Harvard Apparatus Syringe Pump".[3] That's just a motorized device for very slowly pressing the plunger on a syringe, for very low flow rates. If they're using that after five years of work, the process is still limited to very low flow rates.
This is not necessarily a killer limitation. Reverse osmosis started that way, but has been scaled up to industrial scale. But the technology is not here yet.
[1] http://www.google.com/patents/US8801910 [2] http://web.mit.edu/bazant/www/papers/pdf/Schlumberger_2015_s... [3] https://www.harvardapparatus.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/h...
Re: MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
#6Unfortunately Initially at least, this process would not be competitive with methods such as reverse osmosis for large-scale seawater desalination. But it could find other uses in the cleanup of contaminated water, Schlumpberger says. But it could help to make portable desalination modules: Unlike some other approaches to desalination, he adds, this one requires little infrastructure, so it might be useful for portab…
Other than that statement, TFA didn't really go into why it wouldn't be competitive with reverse osmosis.
Any thoughts or ideas?
Edit: New comment basically explained it. Very very low flow rates.
Re: MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
#7In this 170 first SED prototype, the impressive salt removal and water recovery come with significant energy costs, in the range of 10−1 to 103 kWh/m3 171 (hydraulic pumping makes up about 0.5 kWh/m3 172 )
That is quite the energy range...
Re: MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
#8He patented this five years ago.[1] Here's the 2015 paper.[2] Flow rates are very, very low. Note the reference to the fluid source being a "Harvard Apparatus Syringe Pump".[3] That's just a motorized device for very slowly pressing the plunger on a syringe, for very low flow rates. If they're using that after five years of work, the process is still limited to very low flow rates. This is not necessarily a killer li…
MIT Technology Review announced this last year, too.[1]
[1] http://www.technologyreview.com/view/524606/new-desalination...
Re: MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
#9Humanity can really benefit from this. I am waiting to see what becomes of this breakthrough.
Re: MIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water
#10Probably the first time "efficient" and "shockwave-based" have appeared together in a Hacker News headline ;)
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