Development of a modular, energy self-sufficient solution for drinking water production using PV-powered capacitive deionization (smARt-MCDI)

 

Project Background

The aim of smARt-MCDI is to develop a modular, energy-autonomous and intelligent solution for the treatment of groundwater by means of capacitive deionization (MCDI), which will be supplied by PV and operated primarily in rural regions. The all-in-one box uses an integrated IoT-system for control and monitoring via a mobile application. The core technology used is the MCDI, which allows an ion-specific and energy-efficient water desalination in comparison to state-of-the-art technologies. The innovation relies in the direct operation of the MCDI using PV. This requires the development of a novel, high-efficient power supply, since there are no commercially available products to meet these requirements. The modular character of the box consists in its scalability and easy integration of components for the treatment of different contaminants. The integrated smARt-MCDI will be finally tested in rural Argentine, with focus in arsenic removal and the desalination of groundwater.

 

 

Concept 

The project partners will share the task of:

- Developing the power supply based on PV (yellow, EcoPhi)

- Designing and optimizing the MCDI desalination system (green, HKA)

- Develop a concept for sustainable concentrate disposal (red, UNRaf)

- Integrating the technologies in a holistic system (blue, AyP)

 

Acknowledgements

This project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovacion of Argentina under the ZIM - programme (Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand).

Dieses Projekt erhält eine finanzielle Förderung durch das BMWK im Rahmen des Zentralen Innovationsprogramms Mittelstand (ZIM).