Amid the global water crisis, a team of dedicated researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) has taken a significant step towards addressing the growing demand for desalination, the process of converting saltwater into freshwater. Led by Prof. Tamal Banerjee from the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Guwahati, these scientists have developed an innovative heat transfer fluid based on nanofluids. This breakthrough has the potential to efficiently channel solar-generated heat into desalination systems, offering a practical solution to the urgent issue of water scarcity on a global scale.
The pressing concern of a severe water shortage, which is surpassing even population growth, has made desalination an essential process. However, conventional desalination methods rely on heat generated through the burning of fossil fuels, giving rise to economic and environmental challenges. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), harnessing sunlight to create heat, emerges as a promising remedy. Yet, the challenge lies in effectively transmitting this heat from CSP systems to desalination plants, as traditional heat transfer fluids, including molten salts and synthetic oils, come with their own limitations, such as high melting points and suboptimal heat transfer efficiencies. Furthermore, India’s dependence on imported heat transfer fluids escalates capital costs, as highlighted in the press release.
In response to these hurdles, the research team at IIT Guwahati embarked on a journey to explore the potential of nanofluids, which are suspensions of nanoparticles in Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES), as a more efficient alternative. Leveraging the exceptional thermal conductivity and stability of graphene oxide dispersed in a DES, which is a safe and environmentally friendly solvent, the researchers made significant progress. They modified graphene oxide with an amine functionality to enhance dispersion stability, overcoming the tendency of nanoparticles to aggregate. The study showcases the superior thermal properties of nanofluids in heat transfer applications. To further illustrate their innovation, the researchers introduced a novel desalination system that incorporates nanofluids and a heat exchanger. This innovative system holds the promise of achieving a Gain Output Ratio (GOR) of approximately 10, indicating the potential to produce a larger quantity of fresh water, as detailed in the press release.
These groundbreaking research findings have been documented in the journal Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering by the American Chemical Society and received support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, as acknowledged by IIT Guwahati.
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