Low-temperature thermal desalination(LTTD): Indigenous technology for conversion of sea water to potable wate

Source: The post is based on the article “Low-temperature thermal desalination(LTTD): Indigenous technology for conversion of sea water to potable water” published in PIB on 21st July 2022.

What is the News?

The Ministry of Earth Sciences(MoES) through its autonomous Institute National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has developed and demonstrated Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) technology in Lakshadweep islands.

What is Low-temperature thermal desalination(LTTD)?

Low-temperature thermal desalination(LTTD) is a desalination technique for the conversion of seawater to potable water.

This technique works on the principle that water in the ocean 1,000 or 2,000 feet below is about 4º C to 8º C colder than surface water. So, salty surface water is collected in a tank and subject to high pressure (via an external power source). 

This pressured water vapourises and is trapped in tubes or a chamber. Cold water plumbed from the ocean depths is passed over these tubes and the vapour condenses into fresh water and the resulting salt is diverted away.

What are the advantages of the LTTD Technique?

The LTTD technology does not require any chemical pre- and post-treatment of seawater and thus the pollution problems are minimal and suitable for island territories. Since no effluent treatment is required, it gives less operational maintenance problems compared to other desalination processes.