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Water Treatment and Desalination at the TUM

Meeting the worldwide demand for energy and water is the biggest challenge of this century. The Technische Universität München is strongly committed to research on technologies that provide sustainable solutions. The Lehrstuhl für Thermodynamik contributes to this research in the areas of Combustion, Thermo Acoustics, Transport Phenomena and Energy & Environmental Technologie.

The Energy & Environmental Technology Group covers four areas of activities: for detailed information see PDF

 pdf Water Treatment and Desalination at the Lehrstuhl für Thermodynamik

 

Lehrstuhl für Thermodynamik - Activities

 

• Coupling of Humidification-Dehumidification Desalination Systems with Concentrating Solar Power Plants

The use of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) has emerged as a promising way to meet future energy demands. Since many regions with high direct solar radiation lack fresh water, the combination of large scale solar power production and desalination systems can enable new possibilities to provide electricity globally and to provide water locally.

Here, a configuration of a CSP plant coupled with Humidification-Dehumidification (HDH) desalination systems is outlined.

pdf Coupling of Humidification-Dehumidification Desalination Systems with Concentrating Solar Power Plants

 

• Application of Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) Solar Collectors in Desalination

In this project, the main goal was the development of a seawater-proof PV/T system with the aim of low cost and high electrical and thermal performance.

The first experimental results of the PV/T system show clearly that the heat transfer between the PV cells and the absorber is the critical design criteria.

pdf Application of Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal Solar Collectors in Desalination

 

• Analysis of hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) solar systems for small scale reverse osmosis desalination plants

Potential of an PV/T application in RO plants: while preheated feed water will lead to a much higher fresh water output, the cooled PV surface may result in a higher electrical efficiency.

PV/T driven plants produce about 30 to 40 % more potable water than PV driven plants.

pdf Analysis of hybrid photovoltaic/thermal solar systems for small scale reverse osmosis desalination plants

 

• Reverse Osmosis (RO) Desalination Powered by Transient Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) Solar Systems

Transient investigation of the boudary layer is, together with the general goal to apply PV/T hybrid collectors for RO brine preheating, the main focus of the study.

A lab-scale membrane plant at TUM and a field test PV/T RO-plant at DASC will be buil up and used for systematic test series.

pdf Reverse Osmosis Desalination Powered by Transient Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal Solar Systems

 

• Efficiency Enhancement and Low Temperature Regeneration for Liquid Desiccant Air Conditioning Systems (LDAC)

The aim of the project is to compare a LDAC system with a low temperature desiccant regenerator.

The final aim of the project is to build a pilot plant in Tunisia to conduct measurements and to gather data for model validation and further improvement of the system.

pdf Efficiency Enhancement and Low Temperature Regeneration for Liquid Desiccant Air Conditioning Systems