HTI uses a passive system with a concentrated sports drink to produce an emergency water supply from seawater - 1 quart of syrup will make one gallon of sport drink from seawater and provides 3840 calories as well. Membrane lasts at least 10 days, and will produce even more water from brackish or contaminated fresh water due to it's much lower osmotic pressure. This is exactly the sort of water you get from urine and collected rainwater in a life raft or tender. Fish blood, guts, and jucie too. From this sort of source you can expect between 4 and 6 gallons per quart of solution.

A hell of a lot cheaper than the Kaytadin RO hand pump, ($700 or more) and not subject to fouling. The fact that it provides calories and electrolytes in a good tasting, easily digestible solution might be key to survival, especially if people are seasick.

Of course the chances of ever needing the unit are slim - so why pay a bundle for a pump? This is a simple, elegant, and most importantly, CHEAP solution to the whole emergency water desalination problem at sea. If you are a really cheap bastard, you could probably brew up your own concentrated sugar solution to use as the osmotic agent....

;-)

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Casting off the docklines: Nomad and her skipper prepare to head south =)

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Re: Forward Osmmosis Water Purification System

interesting..

I've always managed with lots of small bottles tucked away all over the place. Then if the main tank gets contaminated there's little chance that ALL of the other bottles are too.

I've always wanted a proper water maker though. But not had the cash. If I had I'd go for one of the more serious ones. Cruising in hot areas in a Flicka is a problem with water.
You just can't carry enough and if there are two on board you will struggle if you want to swim every day and shower off. We managed about 8 days at anchor completely self sufficient once while cruising Corsica but were careful with every drop.

If you want all these things like radar, water makers etc you will need a proper charging system and good batteries. I'd recommend a Balmar alternator and regulator plus a good
amp meter to tell you what's going on. Then a pair of flexible, walk on solar panels on the cabin top. Two small are better than one big so they are not both shaded by the boom.

I bought two Mastervolt batteries the season before last and they were very pricey. However, so far, fingers crossed they're still in top nick. As for all the others I had.. dead after a year or two max. They will die unless kept topped up the whole time. Discharge them below half and don't re-charge properly i.e. use the standard alternator and they will die in no time.

Gus

By Gus on 1/21/2010 6:06 PM

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