The Redox Flow Desalination system acts like a battery, capturing excess energy from the source and releasing it on demand.
According to an interesting engineering report, scientists from the Tandon School of Engineering at New York University (USA) have desalinated seawater using redox flow desalination (RFD) technology and obtained a solution that is not only potable but also energy efficient for storing renewable energy. They did.
Using the RFD method, they found that salts were removed significantly faster (by 20%) and energy consumption was significantly reduced by optimizing the liquid flow rate.
“RFD systems offer a scalable and flexible approach to energy storage, allowing efficient use of intermittent renewable resources such as solar and wind. In addition, RFD will help solve the problem of global drinking water scarcity,” the media writes.
Scientists say RFD could reduce dependence on traditional power grids, facilitating the transition to carbon-neutral and environmentally friendly water desalination. Integrating redox flow batteries with desalination technologies increases system efficiency and reliability; This is an important step towards sustainable water solutions.
The architecture of the RFD system was developed by Stephen Acquay McLean, an expert in chemical and biomolecular engineering. He used 3D printing technology, which he said played a crucial role in making the project a reality.
The system works like this: Incoming seawater is split into salt and desalination flows through a complex network of channels. These channels, separated by membranes, facilitate electrochemical reactions that lead to the extraction of Na + ions and the formation of fresh water.
Important
When salt and fresh water mix, the stored chemical energy can be converted into renewable electricity. Essentially, RFD systems act like batteries that capture excess energy from solar and wind sources and release it “on demand” to complement other power sources.
We previously reported that a new type of battery containing indium will charge in just 5 minutes. Scientists used the metal indium to make batteries. In this way, the device can withstand thousands of charge/discharge cycles.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.