Low Maintenance Potable Water from Seawater, Powered by Solar PV

PAX Scientific (PAX) has developed a low-temperature distillation system that purifies water in a low-maintenance and cost-effective process, regardless of the salinity content, reducing electrical energy use compared to competing technologies and allowing water recovery rates of up to 80%. PAX’s technology avoids key issues commonly associated with high total dissolved solids purification such as source variability, corrosion effects, limited access to energy sources, high capital expenses and high operating and maintenance costs (O&M). Its lower operating temperatures allow an all-plastic system for many applications, avoiding corrosion and fouling, and eliminating the need for expensive materials such as titanium. In addition, the system can handle highly variable water sources without the need to replace membranes or filters or add chemicals, minimizing O&M costs. The technology is mobile, modular and scalable with variable throughput handling abilities and can use secondary energy sources, such as low-grade heat and solar thermal, while removing multiple water contaminants. During Phase I, PAX simulated the combination of its distillation system with a hydrogen electrolyzer, to co-produce hydrogen and water from seawater in a cost-effective, rugged, and scalable way. In Phase II, PAX implemented and validated a 10-kW potable water and hydrogen co-production prototype fed with seawater, exiting Phase II at TRL7. The Sequential Phase II project will enable long-duration solar photovoltaic-powered testing, without the use of an electrolyzer as a waste heat source. This will greatly enhance the technology’s readiness level for transition to Phase III funding and commercial partnership.