The Dutch Rainmaker concept is based on a modified “standard-type” windmill in which no electricity is produced but heat by using a heat pump. This heat is used in a “flash evaporation” process. In this way different water sources such as sea water or polluted surface water can be purified. A relatively small windmill already has a significant capacity and can be used for drinking water, sanitation water or irrigation.
Operating principle
In many regions where briny or brackish water is found this type of wind turbine will provide an answer to the
problem. Beside the ability to make clean drinking water, its use of sustainable energy ensures that the environment will not become more overburdened and, important for the user, that energy costs will be independent of the supply-and-demand whims of energy markets.
The diagram shows how the evaporator and condenser are used. Water that evaporated under low pressure by means of a heat pump condenses again and returns heat to the evaporator. This system makes it possible to desalinate large quantities of water with little energy. Expected yield is approx. 200 m3 a day and more dependent on the size and power capacity of the chosen.
