Energy-Efficient Hybrid Water Purification

Today"s military must be highly mobile and carry all necessary equipment and supplies with them. A major limitation to mobility is the need to carry fresh water. Although there are military systems that are very effective in treating any source water for drinking, the size, weight, energy requirements often make them impractical for use by small units and small operating bases. What is needed is a mobile, light weight, energy efficient (<20 Wh/gallon) water treatment system that can treat any source water to produce water that meets military drinking water standards. In Phase I we will build a proof of concept breadboard unit to demonstrate a hybrid water treatment system can desalinate seawater to less than 500 ppm total dissolved solids and in fresh water mode treat source water to 15-minute silt density index values of less than 3.0 and turbidity values less than 1.0 NTU. From this work we will be able to accurately show a pathway to meet the weight, volume and energy metrics for the system. The design work for a system that can purify 300 gallons per day of seawater, weighing less than 500 pounds and less than 25 cubic feet of volume will be done during the Phase I Option period of the project, and prototype systems will be built during Phase II.