Competitive Advantages
- The system is designed to use a unique combination of Forward and Reverse Osmosis (FO/RO) with solar power, which in turn reduces the cost of desalinated water produced.
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The system uses solar thermal energy for simultaneous production of water, power, and cooling in the same loop, which makes the process efficient and self-contained.
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The system does not require a separate water-cooled or air-cooled condenser normally needed for a solar thermal power plant.
Summary
Researchers at the USF have developed a cost-effective hybrid forward/reverse osmosis (FO/RO) membrane system for the desalination of water. It is an optimally designed membrane to utilize the advantages of each osmosis technique to overcome the limitations of the other. It is also power efficient as compared to other desalination systems as it uses a solar thermal field that produces the required power to run the plant. For cooling, a novel thermodynamic cycle known as the Goswami Cycle is employed. The efficiency and throughput of the Goswami cycle is such that, all the energy outflows: Power, cooling, and the rejected heat are utilized in combination for the FO/RO desalination system to produce fresh water and help to manage the strong brine from the process, all inside the system. The main novelty of the proposed system is that it uses solar thermal energy for simultaneous production of water, power, and cooling in the same loop, thus reducing the energy consumption of the RO unit and hence the water cost.
Plant layout of the engineered solar osmosis system
Desired Partnerships
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License
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Sponsored Research
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Co-Development