Challenge
Build a small-scale, industrial-grade desalination system around a novel powertrain focused on energy efficiency.
Approach
A Supply Unit distributes hot water, chilled water and saltwater through plumbing mains to a pair of testbeds on shared HVAC infrastructure. We compared heat-pump vacuum distillation against mechanical vapor recompression as the control group, and sourced flash-drum nozzles, demister media, heat-exchanger form factors and fouling-remediation devices for evaluation. A Control Unit logs data to a Node-RED application server. An Exhaust Unit with vacuum pumps and accumulator tanks generates vacuum and collects brine and condensate for analysis and closed-loop recycling.
Highlights
- A pool saltwater filter simulates seawater across a range of salinity and temperature levels.
- Third-party, peer-reviewed analytical models sized the heat-exchanger capacities.
- Third-party Simulink models set specifications for high-cost components, reducing costs.