Devices

The Challenge

Treating nontraditional water sources requires energy intensity three orders of magnitude higher than treating traditional freshwater sources. Working toward strengthening the U.S. water supply, NAWI researchers are looking to cost-effective, energy-efficient technologies in the desalination and fit-for-purpose reuse spaces. NAWI is focused on advancing device performance in key water treatment areas while simultaneously researching processes and systems to address the whole water treatment picture.

Our Approach

The Devices Topic Area advances technology performance of individual devices in three areas:

• Brackish water desalination
• Distributed and premise scale reuse (including direct potable reuse)
• Fit-for-purpose industrial water reuse.

NAWI is working to identify research gaps and priorities in these areas and develop research projects that address these gaps while focusing on water supply security and alignment with DOE’s Better Plants Program initiatives. Current identified priorities include:

• Reducing the energy intensity of ion removal through membrane materials research;
• Benchmarking of existing and testing of ion exchange mechanism technologies and establishing model ion exchange mechanisms;
• Testing ion exchange membranes through electrodialysis as a method for desalination;
• Exploring cost reductions for such technologies; and
• Partnering with industry to validate and explore commercialization of selected materials.