Project description
Improved materials for thermal water treatment
Fabricating solid surfaces that improve phase change heat transfer has been at the forefront of surface engineering. The EU-funded SETWATER project will apply advanced electrochemical techniques to alter the surface topography and morphology of titanium substrates with the aim of enhancing their heat transfer efficiency. The modified titanium substrate will then be integrated into a heat exchange device. This device will drive the first-of-its-kind hybrid desalination and wastewater treatment system that will help remove contaminants from seawater, providing a viable solution to a long-standing issue.
Objective
We propose to alter the surface topography and morphology of titanium substrates for phase change heat transfer enhancements using the electrochemical techniques developed in an ERC consolidator grant. The alteration efforts will result in enhanced heat transfer efficiency. The modified titanium substrate will be used to fabricate a thermally enhanced heat exchange device, which will then be used to construct a novel thermal water separation system based on a multi-effect ‘hybrid’ distillation concept for fresh water recovery from seawater or industrial wastewater feed. This system is applicable for desalination and wastewater treatment. The goal of the project is to provide technology demonstrators for such a system, which is expected to have a disruptive high efficiency compared to existing systems.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metals
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanetary geology
- engineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologiesdesalination
- engineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologiesdistillation
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantHost institution
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland