New Solar Desalination System Can Produce Cheaper Drinking Water
Engineers at MIT and in China have developed a çinspired by ocean circulation patterns that could produce fresh drinking water. The system, described in the journal Joule, uses natural sunlight to heat saltwater and create circulation patterns that mimic those in the ocean, allowing the water to evaporate and leave salt behind. The system has a higher water production rate and salt-rejection rate than other passive solar desalination concepts, and researchers estimate that a suitcase-sized version could produce enough drinking water for a small family at a cost cheaper than tap water.
