Energy efficient water purification with reduced water wastage

This project aims to develop a new product concept in the field of domestic water purification. The proposed system will use a freeze-thaw process to purify water, combined with a refrigerator. The system will purify up to 40 litres of water per day by removing pollutants such as bacteria, viruses and chemicals (VOCs, heavy metals etc.) and will provide sufficient cooling power for the demands of a typical household cold food storage refrigerator. The combined water purification and refrigeration system will operate at significantly reduced water consumption with less waste compared to an equivalent reverse osmosis water purifier and refrigerator. Energy efficiency is improved through a novel heat recovery scheme, resulting in lower overall power consumption. Furthermore, the system will not require replacement filter cartridges and membranes, as used in other water purification processes, resulting in a reduction in landfill.
The main aim of phase I of this project is to:
• Investigate the effect of environmental and design parameters on the novel freeze-thaw components, and prove the feasibility of the product concept
The aim of a follow-on phase II project would be to:
• Demonstrate a complete operating purification/refrigeration system
• Provide market analysis for the system