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Wave-Powered Desalination

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the wanna-buy-a-duck dept.

dptalia writes, "Scientists think they've found a way to harness the energy of waves to desalinate salt water. Currently desalination is an energy-intensive process, but this new design harnesses the renewable energy of waves to produce fresh water. Many countries depend on desalinated water to support their populations, and this invention could lower the cost of water generation." Production versions of the "desalination ducks" would be about 10 meters in diameter and 20 meters long. Each would supply water for more than 20,000 people.

2 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Wow. by NerveGas · · Score: 5, Insightful

    2,000 cubic meters per day of desalinated water from each unit. That's over 350 gallons per minute. Impressive!

    --
    Oh, you're not stuck, you're just unable to let go of the onion rings.
    1. Re:Wow. by pla · · Score: 4, Insightful

      hell all they need is a $2 magnifying glass lens

      A 20x10 meter lens for $2? Please sell me a dozen! ;-)


      Actually, though, they wouldn't need to focus the light... That serves to concentrate light into a very small area to raise the spot temperature, but doesn't actually raise the temperature if you add in the area shadowed by the lens.

      Just paint the tops of the ducks matte-black, and you'll get the desired solar heating effect.