Journal article
PV-Li-ion-micropump membrane systems for portable personal desalination
AIMS Energy, Vol.4(3), pp.444-460
2016
Abstract
This research presents a technical simulation of theoretically portable desalination systems utilising low-energy and lightweight components that are either commercially available or currently in development. The commercially available components are small-scale flexible and portable photovoltaic (PV) modules, Li-ion battery-converter units, and high pressure low voltage brushless DC motor-powered micropumps. The theoretical and conventional small-scale desalination membranes are compared against each other: low-pressure reverse osmosis (RO), nanofilters, graphene, graphene oxide, and graphyne technology. The systems were designed with the identical PV-Li-ion specifications and simulation data to quantify the energy available to power the theoretical energy demand for desalinating a saline water at 30,000–40,000 ppm total dissolved solid (TDS) to reliably supply the minimum target of 3.5 L d−1 of freshwater for one theoretical year. The results demonstrate that modern portable commercially available PV-battery systems and new generations of energy-efficient membranes under development have the potential to enable users to sustainably procure daily drinking water needs from saline/contaminated water resources, with the system exhibiting a net reduction in weight than carrying water itself.
Details
- Title
- PV-Li-ion-micropump membrane systems for portable personal desalination
- Authors/Creators
- M.P. McHenry (Author/Creator)P.V. Brady (Author/Creator)M.M. Hightower (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- AIMS Energy, Vol.4(3), pp.444-460
- Publisher
- AIMS Press
- Identifiers
- 991005540321507891
- Copyright
- © 2016, Mark P. McHenry, et al.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Engineering and Information Technology
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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