A groundbreaking innovation from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) promises to revolutionize desalination by harnessing the power of solar energy. Led by Prof. Tamal Banerjee from the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Guwahati, a team of researchers has successfully developed a novel heat transfer fluid based on nanofluids. This cutting-edge solution efficiently conveys heat generated by solar power to desalination systems, offering a practical and sustainable approach to producing potable water from seawater.
With global water scarcity posing a growing concern that outpaces population growth, the demand for desalination, the process of converting saltwater into freshwater, has reached a critical juncture. Traditional desalination methods primarily rely on the combustion of fossil fuels to generate the required heat, resulting in economic and environmental challenges. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), which utilizes sunlight to produce heat, has emerged as a promising solution to this dilemma.
The primary challenge in harnessing CSP for desalination has been the efficient transfer of heat from CSP systems to desalination plants. Conventional heat transfer fluids, such as molten salts and synthetic oils, suffer from limitations like high melting points and suboptimal heat transfer efficiencies. Furthermore, India's reliance on imported heat transfer fluids adds to the capital costs, as highlighted in the press release.
To address these critical issues, the IIT Guwahati researchers turned to nanofluids, a novel approach that involves suspensions of nanoparticles in a Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES). They harnessed the exceptional thermal conductivity and stability of graphene oxide dispersed within a DES, a safe and eco-friendly solvent. Through modifications that introduced an amine functionality to graphene oxide, they achieved enhanced dispersion stability, effectively mitigating the nanoparticles' tendency to aggregate. The study not only showcased the superior thermal properties of nanofluids in heat transfer applications but also introduced an innovative desalination system that incorporates nanofluids and a heat exchanger. This pioneering system is poised to achieve an impressive Gain Output Ratio (GOR) of around 10, signifying the potential for generating a larger volume of freshwater, as highlighted in the press release.
The research findings have been published in the journal Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering by the American Chemical Society and received funding from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, according to IIT Guwahati.
