The Enhancement of a Novel 3D -Printed Electrodialysis Device through the Implementation and Optimization of Spacer Designs

Overview

The ocean can serve as a massive drinking water source. Common methods of seawater desalination tend to be cost and energy intensive. Electrodialysis is a low -cost and energy -efficient desalination process involving ion movement driven by electric charge. For electrodialysis, the flow of water is critical to effectiveness. To address this, spacers can be introduced that create pathways for fluid movement and turbulence. The purpose of this study was to examine three spacers - tortuous pathway, cubic, and column - in comparison to a spacer-less control in order to improve fluid turbulence and compare their impacts on desalination performance. The electrodialysis module was 3D -printed, such that it was leak -proof and spacers could easily be swapped. For each design, salinity change and Reynolds number were determined. The control and the tortuous pathway, cubic, and column spacers provided average salinity changes of 5.15+/-1.03 ppt, 12.57+/-1.58 ppt, 8.98+/-1.96 ppt, 8.31+/ -1.40 ppt, respectively. Additionally , the control and the tortuous pathway, cubic, and column spacers had Reynolds numbers of 3247, 9055, 4895, 4858. This demonstrated a direct relationship between average salinity change and Reynolds number, indicating that increasing fluid turbulence improves desalination. Of the spacers, the tortuous pathway was found to be the most effective, significantly improving desalination compared to the control (p<0.05). This is due to its design creating the greatest fluid turbulence. Overall, the creation of a n ovel 3D-printed electrodialysis design incorporating different spacer configurations was found to be a promising technology.

Competition history

JSHS 2024 Category not listed

Resources

National JSHS abstract book

Related projects

ISEF · 2024