Fall 2017 – Advanced vapor compression desalination

An AggiE_Challenge team of undergraduate engineers from Texas A&M University put together to address the National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenge for the 21st Century regarding limited access to drinkable water. Ninety-seven percent of the Earth’s water exists as salt water in our oceans, so effective desalination methods are a logical step forward. Together, we have researched and developed a scalable advanced vapor-compression desalination process (Advanced VCD) that recycles the waste heat of existing refineries to produce drinkable water and other profitable byproducts. This is novel because desalination units traditionally require a large amount of heat to run and utilizing waste heat proves to be economical and environmentally friendly.