Purdue-Led Team Advances in DOE Contest
A Purdue University-led team is among the quarterfinalists in a national solar desalination innovation contest. (photo courtesy of Purdue University)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Purdue University-affiliated team is among 19 quarterfinalists in a national solar desalination innovation contest. The team created a technology called NoAir, which uses solar power to purify high salinity water, and will advance to the next contest in the U.S. Department of Energy’s $9 million Solar Desalination Prize.
Purdue says the contest is designed to “accelerate the development of systems that use solar-thermal energy to produce clean water from salt water for municipal, agricultural and industrial use.”
“It is an exceptional honor and recognition for our team and technology to have been chosen,” said David Warsinger, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in Purdue’s College of Engineering. “Our technology aims to use high-temperature solar heat and a hybrid of desalination technologies to purify high salinity water, both in produced water applications in the Permian Basin and other oil and gas operations, as well as coastal applications for municipal water supplies from brackish and seawater.”
The university says each winner will receive $50,000 in cash and will advance to the Teaming contest of the competition. For Warsinger’s team, Purdue is the academic partner with two company partners including NiekAab Desal and FocusedSun.
Warsinger is an affiliate for Purdue’s Center for the Environment, and Purdue says his team’s work aligns with the center’s interests in energy and water challenges. Warsinger also works with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent and commercialize technology.