#34 - Qilin Li: Solar Membrane Distillation
Episode description
Reverse Osmosis membrane (RO) and thermal (MED, MVC and MSF) desalination are two main types of desalination technologies in the water market. The two solutions cost energy that is not always affordable. One way to reduce the energy cost is to couple renewable energy with these two desalination techs. Another way is to transfer academia breakthrough technologies such as solar membrane distillation to the industry. In this episode Prof Qilin Li at Rice university and the Founder and Chief Scientist at SolMem discusses:
1. Engineering one reactor that combines a solar thermal collector with a membrane distillation reactor.
2. Advantages of using a spiral wound membrane configuration in SMD
3. Challenges to transfer an academia SMD water tech to the water market