Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power Generation
The development of novel materials with ion-selective nanochannels has introduced a new technology for harvesting salinity gradient (blue) energy, namely nanopore power generators (NPGs). In this study, we perform a comprehensive analysis of the practical performance of NPG in both coupon-size and m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095809921001697 |
| _version_ | 1819174027365711872 |
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| author | Zhangxin Wang Li Wang Menachem Elimelech |
| author_facet | Zhangxin Wang Li Wang Menachem Elimelech |
| author_sort | Zhangxin Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of novel materials with ion-selective nanochannels has introduced a new technology for harvesting salinity gradient (blue) energy, namely nanopore power generators (NPGs). In this study, we perform a comprehensive analysis of the practical performance of NPG in both coupon-size and module-scale operations. We show that although NPG membrane coupons can theoretically generate ultrahigh power density under ideal conditions, the resulting power density in practical operations at a coupon scale can hardly reach 10 W·m−2 due to concentration polarization effects. For module-scale NPG operation, we estimate both the power density and specific extractable energy (i.e., extractable energy normalized by the total volume of the working solutions), and elucidate the impact of operating conditions on these two metrics based on the interplay between concentration polarization and extent of mixing of the high- and low-concentration solutions. Further, we develop a modeling framework to assess the viability of an NPG system. Our results demonstrate that, for NPG systems working with seawater and river water, the gross specific extractable energy by the NPG system is very low (~0.1 kW·h·m−3) and is further compromised by the parasitic energy consumptions in the system (notably, pumping of the seawater and river water solutions and their pretreatment). Overall, NPG systems produce very low net specific extractable energy (< 0.025 kW·h·m−3) and net power density (< 0.1 W·m−2). Our study highlights the significant practical limitations in NPG operations, casting doubt on the viability of NPG as a technology for blue energy harvesting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:32:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bdd1ccb3e2ec40b8a1f5ea1bf4c64c0d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-8099 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:32:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-bdd1ccb3e2ec40b8a1f5ea1bf4c64c0d2022-12-21T18:13:33ZengElsevierEngineering2095-80992022-02-0195160Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power GenerationZhangxin Wang0Li Wang1Menachem Elimelech2Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USADepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USADepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Corresponding author.The development of novel materials with ion-selective nanochannels has introduced a new technology for harvesting salinity gradient (blue) energy, namely nanopore power generators (NPGs). In this study, we perform a comprehensive analysis of the practical performance of NPG in both coupon-size and module-scale operations. We show that although NPG membrane coupons can theoretically generate ultrahigh power density under ideal conditions, the resulting power density in practical operations at a coupon scale can hardly reach 10 W·m−2 due to concentration polarization effects. For module-scale NPG operation, we estimate both the power density and specific extractable energy (i.e., extractable energy normalized by the total volume of the working solutions), and elucidate the impact of operating conditions on these two metrics based on the interplay between concentration polarization and extent of mixing of the high- and low-concentration solutions. Further, we develop a modeling framework to assess the viability of an NPG system. Our results demonstrate that, for NPG systems working with seawater and river water, the gross specific extractable energy by the NPG system is very low (~0.1 kW·h·m−3) and is further compromised by the parasitic energy consumptions in the system (notably, pumping of the seawater and river water solutions and their pretreatment). Overall, NPG systems produce very low net specific extractable energy (< 0.025 kW·h·m−3) and net power density (< 0.1 W·m−2). Our study highlights the significant practical limitations in NPG operations, casting doubt on the viability of NPG as a technology for blue energy harvesting.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095809921001697Nanopore power generatorSalinity gradient (blue) energyPower densitySpecific extractable energy |
| spellingShingle | Zhangxin Wang Li Wang Menachem Elimelech Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power Generation Engineering Nanopore power generator Salinity gradient (blue) energy Power density Specific extractable energy |
| title | Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power Generation |
| title_full | Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power Generation |
| title_fullStr | Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power Generation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power Generation |
| title_short | Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power Generation |
| title_sort | viability of harvesting salinity gradient blue energy by nanopore based osmotic power generation |
| topic | Nanopore power generator Salinity gradient (blue) energy Power density Specific extractable energy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095809921001697 |
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