MIT Battery-Free Solar Desalination System¶
Membranes & Advanced Filtration • Est. CapEx: Low-cost / Locally fabricated
Technical Overview¶
A community-scale solar-powered desalination system that requires no batteries, designed for brackish groundwater in inland communities. It produced up to 5,000 liters per day in field tests in New Mexico.
Key Specifications & Engineering Parameters¶
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Category | Membranes & Advanced Filtration |
| Capital Cost | Low-cost / Locally fabricated |
| Primary Mechanism | Uses photovoltaic panels to directly power a reverse osmosis pump; the system's electronics continuously vary power consumption to match real-time solar irradiance, eliminating the need for energy storage. |
| Target Scale | Household / Village Cluster |
| Standard Lifespan | 10 - 20 Years |
Cross-Reference & Interactive Tools¶
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