GE develops 3D printed micro steam turbines to desalinate seawater

In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth issued a command: Who can invent a cheap way to dilute the bitter and salty water into fresh water for human consumption, and who can get a huge prize of 10,000 pounds. But until now, human desalination technology is still in an embarrassing situation where equipment is huge, cost is high, efficiency is low, and promotion is not easy. But recently, a handheld 3D printing device being developed by a research team composed of GE Global R&D Center and the US Department of Energy has the potential to make seawater desalination more convenient. It is worth mentioning that they use the principle of a steam turbine to achieve it.

This may sound a bit strange. In fact, the concept comes from the ideas of GE scientists Doug Hofer and Vitali Lissianski. To know that GE's research department is full of small water coolers and coffee machines, and Lissianski inadvertently thought of an idea with his manager. They teamed up with steam turbine expert Hofer to come up with a perfect desalinated water method: a micro steam turbine. .

Hofer himself is involved in a project to miniaturize GE turbines. Ordinary GE steam turbines are often as large as school gymnasiums. “In a traditional steam turbine, steam condenses into water,” Hofer explained. “We thought maybe the same principle could be used for desalination.” Although this system is usually used for power generation, Hofer explained that they can also run this flow system to freeze seawater or salt water instead of turning it into steam. By freezing the mixture, the salt will naturally separate as a solid, leaving only ice, and the ice will become clean after it melts.

Mini 3D printing turbine

This could be a really useful tool as the supply of clean drinking water is decreasing, not increasing. 97.5% of the world's water resources are locked in the sea and cannot be used, and 1.2 billion people in the world are in serious water shortage.

“By desalination of seawater in the form of ice, we hope to change this situation.” Vitali Lissianski said that he is a project leader at the GE Global R&D Center's Energy Systems Laboratory. “It’s nothing new to freeze the seawater, but the way we are doing it is very different. We have developed a very economical solution using our extensive knowledge of turbomachinery.”

“You can also say that our turbine is “supercharged” with an economical desalination system,” Lissianski joked.

Hofer explained that cooling the salt water or sea water droplets by expanding the turbine's air-conditioning will greatly reduce the energy required for desalination. “The heat transfer between the cooled gas and the seawater is much more efficient than the traditional thermal desalination system.”

If this handheld 3D printing tool can be successfully tested, it can cut the cost of seawater desalination by up to 20%. In turn, it will attract more funds to be invested in desalination equipment.

For this water desalination concept, it is not wise to use a full-size turbine. They are usually as big as a few trains and often take months to build. To speed up the development process, the research team used the 3D technology developed by the GE Global Research Center Additive Manufacturing Lab and GE Aviation's Additive Manufacturing Center in Cincinnati to print miniaturized components. Although there is no exact timetable, Hofer has been involved in many projects to miniaturize GE turbines, so the experience is readily available. So we have reason to believe that in the near future, when we go to the beach to play, we just need to bring this hand-held tool, no need to carry bottled water.

Poly DL-lactide-co-glycolide PDLGA

Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PDLGA) is an synthetic and biodegradable biomaterial. It is a copolymer based on DL-lactic and glycolic acids. PDLGA has been widely used in drug delivery, such as microspheres.

The CAS Registry number of Poly(L-lactic acid) PLLA is 26780-50-7.

It is white floccule.

What we can do are PDLGA5050,PDLGA7525,PDLGA8515,PDLGA9010,etc.

We can provide Intrinsic viscosity from 0.30-2.25 dl/g, Mw from 6000-30000.

For each batch a certificate of analysis is provided, showing the analytical data determined in our quality control laboratory. Additional analytical data can be made upon request.

When stored in the original packaging at low temperatures (2-8°C), PDLGA keeps its initial properties for at least two years.

RIMLESS is the exclusive distributor, exporter and global brand licensor of REBORN. We take REBORN and RIMLESS as the core brands, biomedical materials and their applications in the medical field as the main business, and the high-end medical devices as the research and development direction.
We have exported over 50 countries and areas in the world and won a very good reputation and long-term partnership with our customers.

Medical Grade Pdlga,Raw Material Poly Dl-Lactide-Co-Glycolide,Cas 26780-50-7 Polymer,Dl-Lactide-Co-Glycolide

Rimless Industry Co.,Ltd. , https://www.rimlessaesthetics.com