A low energy desal plant

[Tipp]

Think POST GAS: go to theENGINEER, 19 April 2010,p33; www.theengineer.co.uk, article on Production Engineering,
Water Purification, "DRINK IN THE SUN"; Abstracted: "A low temperature evaporative water desalination system is set to slash energy and maintenance costs of converting salt water to drinking water...." , The Desalination system uses so little energy that it can be powered by solar energy. Developed by New Mexico State University, marketed now by Sterling Water, established in Doha, Qatar, Washington and Seattle, with worldwide rights.

Here is a good project that TT can JV with Sterling and co-develop for TT, setting up pilot plants etc. This needs doing now, as it may take 5 years to commercialise to full working process, 5 years hence, TT is near halfway through its present residual gas reserves. Think out of the box now!!

Note: we missed the BP R&D project on sugar-ethanol-fuels Research pilot plant, lets not miss this opportunity.
Do you think TT should look into this?

[lexbarker]

For some time now I have been seeing reports that fresh usable water would be a global problem. Lately, we have seen that there is a problem in certain areas like California and Nevada. But like anything else that is freely and readily available, you never miss the water ‘till the well goes dry. Let us look what minimum water we in the developed world would use per person.

Toilet: 6 flushes a day at 2 gals do? 12 gals
Bath 8 gals
Cooking and washing utensils 6 gals
Laundry 6 gals
Morning and nightly cleanup 3 gals

So we have about 35 gals minimum usage, not counting if you have to take care of a lawn or a vegetable/flower garden.

I know some people who would empty a 60 gal hot water tank in one bath and still complain that the hot water ran out. Others would complain that their energy bill was too high but they will wash wares with the hot water constantly running while attending to other activity.

I looked at your solar article and was not that impressed. The problem is the size.

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/production-engineering/in-depth/sterling-introduces-solar-powered-desalination-system/1001763.article

The size is too big for the production of only 200 gals per day (when the sun is shining).
There is a need for more solar cells or some other way to bring the water to a higher temperature. That unit may be good for an individual home but I cannot see a series of them going to commercial use unless the price of water is so high that people will not waste it. Also, taking into consideration of any loss during transportation especially old lines that were installed during the original infrastructure. This may benefit areas with true water shortage, T & T is not one of them. It may be cheaper for them to run a pipeline from the Orinico river in South America.

[guyguy]

Here is a good project that TT can JV with Sterling and co-develop for TT, setting up pilot plants etc. This needs doing now, as it may take 5 years to commercialise to full working process, 5 years hence, TT is near halfway through its present residual gas reserves. Think out of the box now!!

Note: we missed the BP R&D project on sugar-ethanol-fuels Research pilot plant, lets not miss this opportunity.
Do you think TT should look into this?Tipp,
This is something I can wholeheartedly endorse, without reservations. Just imagine; these Desal plants can be constructed in any area along T&Ts coastline and be run on Solar energy. Man, we'd never have to worry about potable water again.

[amzz]

we certainly have a need for desal plants and they are not so expensive right?
so let's get some!

[Tipp]

Lex, you see, why do you think Sterling is embarking on this? They are giving you the facts for lab and small pilot plant. You start in a test tube, you go to 1 litre flask, you go to 10 litres, you go small pilot plant then you go several units. A process of mines went thru this framework and its on the web and people search you out as there is a demand, R&D you need have an open mind or it gets killed in the boardroom, once approved it goes thru several gates, to the point it is now, Negative thinking people are bad for R&D. They need drop out of thinking fundamentally and they should not be in Research full stop!! the project dies if it does not pass thru severe gateposts, yours Lex has already been past I would think.

[lexbarker]

The question is how does this technology differs from other low energy desal plants? Does it show more prospect to be more efficient in production and cost? What size would it occupy if it has to produce about 25 million gallons a day that is needed for a small city.

[Tipp]

The question is how does this technology differs from other low energy desal plants? Does it show more prospect to be more efficient in production and cost? What size would it occupy if it has to produce about 25 million gallons a day that is needed for a small city.

Lex: its the Product Innovation Process at play here in R&D, go search PIP or product innovatiion process on web, it tells you the process a R&D idea goes thru. I see you are not a Research guy as you wouldnt be asking these Qs, You think , if such an idea was published in Scientific American, that it was not a good idea that has passed lab to pilot plant tests? go SciAm webchat see the Qs being asked, THis is the system, TT can get involved in the JV fact finding stage for desal plants, same as Sugar to high octane Gasoline and we benefit but nah we go make music and albums and fix boats once the gas finish eh? heh step outta de box nah...

[lexbarker]

It looks like Guy and I could pair up to make a good comedy team. You are right I am not a researcher and it looks like you are so far above us you are giving us a lesson as we go along. You complained that the TTOL site has not interest in Science and we are talking a lot of nonsense in politics and maccoing people business. Now that you have drawn us here with some of our moronic opinions it is your great opportunity to make complete fools of us. But let me say that from what I see, you are only interested in research for research sake whether it is practical or not. Some of the basic things I mentioned are some of the elements one has to ask before going on a project like this.

Like I mentioned in another post, give us the patents that you hold to see how it can benefit mankind or I will see you as a fraud or con man. If you cannot provide your patents, stop talking like a big pappy when you are getting your information from Popular Science and National Geographic. So shut your face until you provide proof. I don't know what box you are stepping out of so often but everytime you step out you are stepping on shyt. You could go back in and step out again.