Zero Energy Desalination Plant and Theater

A new "Water Theater" is being planned for the Canary Islands which will not only be a seaside cultural center for performing arts, but will also serve as an innovative desalination plant. The architecture of the sea-facing wall is such that cool sea water is pumped into tubes then sprayed on a membrane through which sun-warmed air flows. The warm air over the cooler tubes causes the condensation of fresh water which drips into collecting troughs below. This is essentially a giant solar convection powered dehumidifier that supposedly can provide enough fresh water for an entire city! It also combines aesthetic architecture with renewable resource management and doubles as a theater that benefits the entire community. I'm curious to see what a dehumidifier of this size does to the local weather patterns, though.

See the video on Discovery.com

More technical info and photos here.

via Victor Argueta, Ph.D.