Eco Factor: Eco-friendly solar-powered water desalination system.
A research team from MIT’s Field and Space Robotics Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering has designed an environmentally friendly water desalination system that runs on solar energy. The system is aimed to be used in disaster-struck areas where providing potable water is a challenge.
While conventional desalination systems require enormous infrastructure and lots of energy, MIT’s system is cleaner and can be transported to remote areas where supplying energy and clean water can be logistically complex and expensive. The system is based on the use of a solar photovoltaic panel that powers a pump to push seawater through a permeable membrane to remove salt and other minerals. The system includes various sensors that allow it to keep producing water even on a cloudy day.
Using state-of-the-art technology, the prototype system is capable of producing 80 gallons of water a day in a variety of weather conditions. The team estimates that a larger version of the unit, which could cost about $8000 to construct, can provide about 1000 gallons of water each day. The team also estimates that one C-130 cargo airplane could transport two dozen desalination units, which are enough to provide potable water to 10,000 people.
Via: MIT
