15 Jul 16
I couldn't find any figures, but the reverse process, water purification, would tell us one maximum as whatever it takes to purify sea water must be more than what you can get out of the reverse otherwise you would have an infinite energy source.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis
15 Jul 16
Originally posted by twhiteheadThe amount of water pressure on that membrane would be enourmous I would think for that kind of flow. Just seems unlikely.
No, the video clearly shows 1metre x 1metre.
I don't think inefficiency would result in heat, that's not the kind of inefficiency that would occur.
You may also find this interesting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversed_electrodialysis
More important than the area of membrane is the amount of water required. My guess is the experimenters didn ...[text shortened]... h of river water and sea water. There is no way that can be done passed a membrane of just 1m^2.
15 Jul 16
Originally posted by sonhouseWater pressure is a function of the pressure on either side so, no, pressure isn't the issue.
The amount of water pressure on that membrane would be enourmous I would think for that kind of flow. Just seems unlikely.
The flow itself may cause stress, but that isn't pressure.
The problem with high flow rates is the ions just get carried off instead of being used to create electricity.
15 Jul 16
Originally posted by twhiteheadThat would depend on how strongly the three layer atomic structure resists that effort. Does anyone know what kind of flow it would take to start carrying off bits of the structure?
Water pressure is a function of the pressure on either side so, no, pressure isn't the issue.
The flow itself may cause stress, but that isn't pressure.
The problem with high flow rates is the ions just get carried off instead of being used to create electricity.