DESALINATION THROUGH
RAPID SPRAY EVAPORATION

US AquaSonics Corporation has developed a process that enables a substantial cost reduction in desalination. Its patented technology, Rapid Spray Evaporation (RSE™), has achieved water recovery efficiencies of 95% versus approximately 40% for other seawater desalination technologies. When coupled to suitable low-cost or waste heat, the cost for RSE™ is expected to be less than $2 per 1,000 gallons. The heat required for RSE could be generated from geothermal, gas-turbine, heat pump, electrical heating element or electrical power generation, solar methods such as salt ponds or a combination of these and other technologies. RSE™ technology is capable of cost-effective separation of solids from various types of waters, including wastewaters having up to 25% dissolved solids.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE

The RSE™ technology is based on a patented method of producing very small droplets of saltwater that are rapidly evaporated in a heated air stream. The evaporation results in water vapor and precipitated salt particles. The salt particles are collected in a slurry or dried form; and the water vapor is condensed, resulting in potable water. The process is environmentally friendly, in that it returns no concentrated brine to the saltwater source. Also, unlike reverse osmosis, RSE™ does not use membrane technology, which requires expensive periodic maintenance.

When sufficient waste heat is available, no other technology equals the advantages of RSE™ in terms of operating and capital costs, potable water volume recovery, and recovery of solids, based on published literature and test demonstration results. The technological and economical features of the RSE method make it attractive for a variety of applications. For example, certain wastewater applications, especially those having high concentrations of dissolved solids, may be uniquely treated by RSE.