MIT Engineers Develop Innovative Solar-Powered Desalination System That Requires No Additional Batteries - TechEBlog

Photo credit: Shane PrattMIT engineers have developed an innovative desalination system that essentially runs with the rhythms of the sun, and does not require any additional batteries.

Simply put, it removes salt from water at a pace that closely follows changes in solar energy, whereas when sunlight increases through the day, the system ramps up its desalting process and automatically adjusts to any sudden variation in sunlight. This system is capable of quickly reacting to subtle changes in sunlight, thus maximizing the utility of solar energy, producing large quantities of clean water despite variations in sunlight throughout the day.

Conventional desalination technologies require steady power and need battery storage to smooth out a variable power source like solar. By continually varying power consumption in sync with the sun, our technology directly and efficiently uses solar power to make water. Being able to make drinking water with renewables, without requiring battery storage, is a massive grand challenge. And we’ve done it,” said Amos Winter, the Germeshausen Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the K. Lisa Yang Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Center at MIT.

A technology, gadget and video game enthusiast that loves covering the latest industry news. Favorite trade show? Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.