PV-Powered Electrochemical Desalination of Seawater for the Generation of Potable Water and Hydrogen

The system proposed by Faraday will utilize a novel cyclical electrochemical cell powered by photovoltaic sources to simultaneously generate hydrogen gas and desalinate seawater for potable water production. The cell will consist of a central seawater flow chamber and two peripheral electrode chambers separated by ion-exchange membranes. The cell will operate through two half-cycles. During the discharge half-cycle, flowing seawater will be desalinated and hydrogen gas will be generated. During the charging half-cycle, the electrode chambers are refreshed and a concentrated brine will be produced. The cell will be constructed from inexpensive electrode materials and will avoid the generation of toxic byproducts and corrosion typically associated with seawater electrolysis. By utilizing state-of-the-art fouling resistant ion-exchange membranes along with Faraday’s pulse-reverse technology, the electrochemical cell will be able to enhance the migration of ions through semi-permeable membranes during electrochemical desalination and mitigate marine fouling and mineral scaling of the membrane and electrode materials. Additionally, the system will be designed to integrate with commercially available hydrogen storage systems and fuel cell power stations for facile design of a standalone hydrogen storage and desalination system.