Membrane-based processes for sustainable power generation using water.
Water has always been crucial to combustion and hydroelectric processes, but it could become the source of power in membrane-based systems that capture energy from natural and waste waters. Two processes are emerging as sustainable methods for capturing energy from sea water: pressure-retarded osmosis and reverse electrodialysis. These processes can also capture energy from waste heat by generating artificial salinity gradients using synthetic solutions, such as thermolytic salts. A further source of energy comes from organic matter in waste waters, which can be harnessed using microbial fuel-cell technology, allowing both wastewater treatment and power production.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. blogan@psu.edu
Bruce E
BE
Logan
Menachem
M
Elimelech
D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D003956:Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D004560:Electricity; D006358:Hot Temperature; D059205:Renewable Energy / Q000191:economics; D054712:Salinity; D014867:Water
D056804:Biofuels; D014867:Water