Desalination of Hyper-Concentrated Brines via Microwave Irradiation Mechanism: Case Studies. A Simultaneous Integration of ThermalDesalination, Steam Turbines, and Brine Mining into a DesalinationPlant Design

Abstract

A new and novel approach to thermal desalination is being developed. This application involves microwave irradiation of custom-made reactors that can generate instantaneous temperatures of over 1000 ºC and cause instant evaporation of seawater. The benefits are severalfold: in addition to purified water, suitable for human consumption, a large amount of energy can be generated via steam turbines that can be fitted into the desalination module. This approach also makes brine mining of rare metals possible, as large amounts of brine are generated and stored for further processing. The energy consumption is just a fraction of the conventional thermal desalination process. This approach can be transferred into portable desalination devices that can be easily deployed in emergency and distress situations.