Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Harnessing power from osmotic energy


http://newenergynews.blogspot.com/2009/11/norways-ocean-osmosis-play.html
Norway pilot plant produces electric power from the osmotic energy produced when fresh and salt water are separated by a membrane. 

National Geographic notes the Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) method is expensive and will need to have a significant reduction in the cost of membranes to be cost effective.  They plan on combining the PRO method with a tertiary treatment (PRO/TT) to generate energy while purifying water.

http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news10.8c.html
Researchers in the Netherlands are working on a reverse electrodialysis RED method, which uses the difference between salt and fresh water to create a direct current battery.   Other researchers have combined RED with microbial fuel cells (MFC) to produce electricity.  The combination is called a microbial reverse electrodialysis Cell (MRC).  It reduces the surface material for membranes and increases the electrical production from the cells.

Bruce Logan - Penn State




No comments:

Post a Comment