{"id":699232,"date":"2025-11-14T22:55:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T19:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/low-grade-heat-from-renewable-sources-could-be-used-to-desalinate-water\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T22:55:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T19:55:11","slug":"low-grade-heat-from-renewable-sources-could-be-used-to-desalinate-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/low-grade-heat-from-renewable-sources-could-be-used-to-desalinate-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Low-grade heat from renewable sources could be used to desalinate water"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3f9cceb1979\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3f9cceb1979\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/low-grade-heat-from-renewable-sources-could-be-used-to-desalinate-water\/#Addressing_the_water_and_energy_crises\" >Addressing the water and energy crises<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/mcgill-study-shows-low.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/mcgill-study-shows-low.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Graphical abstract. Credit: &lt;i&gt;Desalination&lt;\/i&gt; (2025). DOI: 10.1016\/j.desal.2025.119103\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/mcgill-study-shows-low.jpg\" alt=\"McGill study shows low-grade heat from renewable sources could be used to desalinate water\" title=\"Graphical abstract. Credit: Desalination (2025). DOI: 10.1016\/j.desal.2025.119103\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Graphical abstract. Credit: <i>Desalination<\/i> (2025). DOI: 10.1016\/j.desal.2025.119103<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A McGill University-led research team has demonstrated the feasibility of a sustainable and cost-effective way to desalinate seawater. The method\u2014thermally driven reverse osmosis (TDRO)\u2014uses a piston-based system powered by low-grade heat from solar thermal, geothermal heat and other sources of renewable energy to produce fresh water.<\/p>\n<p>Though previous research showed promise, this study is the first to analyze TDRO&#8217;s thermodynamic limits. The results have brought researchers closer to realizing the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> which could improve access to water and increase the sustainability of infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Most desalination is done by reverse osmosis, which uses electricity to drive water through a membrane,&#8221; said Jonathan Maisonneuve, study co-author and Associate Professor of Bioresource Engineering.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The challenge with using heat is that it takes a lot of it to do what you could with a little bit of electricity. So, if we can find a way to harness existing heat from renewable sources, that could be very advantageous, because it&#8217;s so abundant,&#8221; Maisonneuve said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Thermally driven reverse osmosis: thermodynamics of a novel process that uses heat for desalination and water purification,&#8221; by Saber Khanmohammadi, Sanjana Yagnambhatt, Dan DelVescovo and Jonathan Maisonneuve, was <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/linkinghub.elsevier.com\/retrieve\/pii\/S001191642500579X\" target=\"_blank\">published<\/a> in <i>Desalination<\/i> on Oct. 15, 2025.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Addressing_the_water_and_energy_crises\"><\/span>Addressing the water and energy crises<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Electricity-based desalination, which is often inaccessible in remote areas, requires about one to four kilowatt hours (kWh) to produce one cubic meter of fresh water.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- TechX - News - In-article --><\/p>\n<p>According to the researchers&#8217; analysis, which optimized several elements of a design proposed by MIT researcher Peter Godart, TDRO would require 20 kWh per cubic meter.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s still a big difference when you compare it to one to four kWh, but because heat is cheaper than electricity, we don&#8217;t have to totally close that gap,&#8221; Maisonneuve said.<\/p>\n<p>TDRO works by heating and cooling a small amount of fluid in a sealed chamber, known as the working fluid. This temperature fluctuation expands the working fluid, causing it to drive a piston to push seawater through a reverse osmosis membrane\u2014effectively combining a thermodynamic cycle with water purification.<\/p>\n<p>By studying and optimizing the ratio of working fluid to seawater fluid, as well as the piston sizes, the researchers demonstrated that TDRO has better performance potential than previously thought. The method also compares well against existing thermal desalination technologies, but they say further study is required.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Next, we need to model it in detail, see how quickly the system can operate and introduce a number of non-ideal effects, such as heat loss through the environment,&#8221; Maisonneuve said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSaber Khanmohammadi et al, Thermally driven reverse osmosis: thermodynamics of a novel process that uses heat for desalination and water purification, <i>Desalination<\/i> (2025). <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.desal.2025.119103\" target=\"_blank\">DOI: 10.1016\/j.desal.2025.119103<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n                                                Provided by<br \/>\n                                                                                                    McGill University<br \/>\n                                                    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mcgill.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/techx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v2\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Low-grade heat from renewable sources could be used to desalinate water (2025, November 14)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 14 November 2025<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/techxplore.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-11-grade-renewable-sources-desalinate.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techxplore.com\/news\/2025-11-grade-renewable-sources-desalinate.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Graphical abstract. Credit: Desalination (2025). DOI: 10.1016\/j.desal.2025.119103 A McGill University-led research team has demonstrated the feasibility of a sustainable and cost-effective way to desalinate seawater. The method\u2014thermally driven reverse osmosis (TDRO)\u2014uses a piston-based system powered by low-grade heat from solar thermal, geothermal heat and other sources of renewable energy to produce fresh water. Though previous&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":699233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/mcgill-study-shows-low.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-699232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=699232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/699233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=699232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=699232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=699232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}