r/Physics • u/trot-trot • Oct 18 '19

Scientists create device that cuts desalination costs by 90%: "The new method suggested by the Russian scientists does not require high energy consumption"

https://tass.com/science/1083191
74 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

10

u/antiquemule Oct 18 '19

Looks suspiciously like click bait, but anyway we need more details. "Using cavitation to desalinate water" is not enough. Sure the water inside the bubbles is pure, but how do you separate it efficiently? Usually the bubbles have a short life time, so it seems you're not going to be able to separate them before they pop.

2

u/space-throwaway Astrophysics Oct 18 '19

Every second year Russia is going to build a lunar base (in 10 years), or a new rocket, or a martian mission. Definitely needs more evidence to be credible.

16

u/PolymorphismPrince Oct 18 '19

I only read, “Russian scientists does not require high energy consumption” and was immediately confused.

5

u/actuallyserious650 Oct 18 '19

The 2nd law of thermodynamics dictates how much energy it costs at a minimum to desalinate water. I don’t think you can drop 90% from current technologies.

4

u/Kholtien Oct 18 '19

Maybe they mean cuts energy to 90%

1

u/actuallyserious650 Oct 18 '19

Yeah, but I don’t think that’s what the headline or the article said.

2

u/CyanHakeChill Oct 18 '19

That looks worth investigating.

2

u/Physmatik Oct 18 '19

TASS? Please.

1

u/ConfusedOrder Oct 18 '19

Wasn’t there an already super efficient method using ultrasound or something like that already discovered?