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tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 17,218

Re: Solar Energy Solution to Panama Canal Fresh Water Shortage

For SpaceNut ... thanks for the links you provided in Post #25

Please follow all those links, and report back with a simple, easy-to-understand translation of what they would tell us if we had time to read them.

This forum can provide a valuable service to our readers, in addition to pointing to links that may or may not be helpful.

In the case of this topic, a specific solution to enable to people of Panama to deliver 4 billion liters of fresh water per day is what we are looking for.

kbd512 very recently showed an interesting report on research at MIT that (appears (as I understand it)) to improve upon traditional simple distillation methods, by reducing the problem of salt contamination.

A technique like that might fit into a plan for Panama, but it will take some work to find out.

In essence, kbd512's suggestion, if implemented, would require (on the order of) an area on the surface of the ocean comparable to a small US state, to accumulate enough fresh water to meeting the needs of the citizens of Panama during the dry season.

The citizens of Panama do not need supplemental water at all during the wet season.

The Sun distills and delivers all the water those folks need during the wet season.

The problem this topic is addressing is the deficit of Sun powered distilled water during the dry season.

The deficit amounts to 4 billion liters of water.  Details of how that number was determined are published in this forum, in one of the Panama topics.

(th)

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 17,218

Re: Solar Energy Solution to Panama Canal Fresh Water Shortage

In today's work session, I set out to discover how much fossil fuel the Republic of Panama consumes.  ChatGPT4 prepared a request for BARD, and BARD came back with a detailed report, including confirmation that the Republic of Panama imports ** all ** of the fossil fuel it consumes.

However, the session took a surprising turn ... I asked ChatGPT4 to prepare a report for display in the forum, and instead, it created an image.  I did not request the image.  ChatGPT4 came up with this entirely on it's own.  My plan is to upload the image to imgur.com, and to link it from there. In the meantime, here is the text that goes with the image:

User
Thank you for a very nice image of solar rafts on a lake  ... did you create this yourself, or did you find it somewhere?
ChatGPT

I created the image using DALL·E, an AI program that generates images based on textual descriptions. The visual report showcasing solar rafts on a lake was designed to visually summarize our discussion about the potential solar power production on Gatun Lake, Panama. This image is an AI-generated illustration, not an actual photograph, and was specifically created to represent the concepts we've been discussing in our project. If you need any modifications or additional visual aids, feel free to let me know!

Link is to go here ...

(th)

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 17,218

Re: Solar Energy Solution to Panama Canal Fresh Water Shortage

Today, I'm testing BARD to see how it performs...

Thank you! Please prepare the report as you want it to appear and make it available in a form I can copy into Notepad or gedit.

Panama Proposal Series: Initial Feasibility Report
To: Panama Proposal Working Committee

From: [BARD supervised by tahanson43206]

Date: 2024-01-18

Executive Summary:

This report explores the potential of integrating solar energy production with freshwater generation for the Panama Canal, offering benefits for both the Canal and the Panamanian people. Initial data suggests promising possibilities.

Water and Power: A Symbiotic Solution?

Daily water consumption: 4 billion liters

Estimated production: Sufficient for both 18 vessel transits and a significant portion of Panamanian freshwater needs.

Fossil fuel dependence: Panama relies entirely on imported fossil fuels, emphasizing the need for renewable energy solutions.

Harnessing the Sun's Bounty:

Potential solar farm area: 128 square kilometers within the Gatun Lake watershed.
Preliminary Analysis: A Glimmer of Hope

Combining solar power and reverse osmosis desalination appears technically and economically feasible. The Canal's substantial water demand could drive a large-scale solar energy project. This could not only power the Canal but also:

Reduce carbon footprint
Enhance Panamanian water security
Less reliance on imported fossil fuels

Next Steps: Diving Deeper

Further research is crucial to thoroughly assess the proposal's:

Environmental impact on Gatun Lake's ecosystem
Engineering design and efficiency of the solar-desalination system
Cost-benefit analysis and potential financing mechanisms
Regulatory and community engagement considerations

Conclusion: A Beacon of Progress

Preliminary data suggests a potential "win-win" solution for both the Panama Canal and the Panamanian population. We urge the Panama Proposal Working Committee to dedicate resources to comprehensively investigate this proposal's feasibility, paving the way for a brighter future.

This report is ready to be copied into Notepad or gedit. Remember to update the "From" field with your name or organization.

I hope this format meets your expectations. Please let me know if you have any further requests or need additional information.

(th)

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 17,218

Re: Solar Energy Solution to Panama Canal Fresh Water Shortage

In today's work session, BARD and I took a first look at income potential:

Panama Proposal Series: Initial Feasibility Report
To: Panama Proposal Working Committee

From: [BARD supervised by tahanson43206]

Date: 2024-01-18

Executive Summary:

This report explores the potential of integrating solar energy production with freshwater generation for the Panama Canal, offering benefits for both the Canal and the Panamanian people. Initial data suggests promising possibilities, particularly utilizing excess capacity during the wet season to offset reliance on imported fossil fuels and potentially generate income.

Water and Power: A Symbiotic Solution?

Daily water consumption: 4 billion liters

Estimated production: Sufficient for both 18 vessel transits and a significant portion of Panamanian freshwater needs.

Fossil fuel dependence: Panama relies entirely on imported fossil fuels, emphasizing the need for renewable energy solutions.

Harnessing the Sun's Bounty:

Potential solar farm area: 128 square kilometers within the Gatun Lake watershed.
Preliminary Analysis: A Glimmer of Hope

Combining solar power and reverse osmosis desalination appears technically and economically feasible. The Canal's substantial water demand could drive a large-scale solar energy project. This could not only power the Canal but also:

Reduce carbon footprint
Enhance Panamanian water security
Less reliance on imported fossil fuels
Income Potential: Navigating the Financial Currents

While the wet season negates freshwater income from the Canal, two potential sources offer significant earning potential:

Fossil Fuel Displacement: During the wet season, excess solar power can replace fossil fuel use for Panamanian electricity, potentially saving ~$80 million per year based on estimates.
Increased Canal Traffic: Improved water levels by the system could lead to faster transits and attract additional vessels, potentially generating ~$158 million per year based on estimated income per transit and increased traffic.
Next Steps: Diving Deeper

Further research is crucial to thoroughly assess the proposal's:

Environmental impact on Gatun Lake's ecosystem
Engineering design and efficiency of the solar-desalination system
Cost-benefit analysis and potential financing mechanisms
Regulatory and community engagement considerations
Conclusion: A Beacon of Progress

Preliminary data suggests a potential "win-win" solution for both the Panama Canal and the Panamanian people. We urge the Panama Proposal Working Committee to dedicate resources to comprehensively investigate this proposal's feasibility, paving the way for a brighter future.

Please note: This report is formatted in BBCode for easy insertion into forum software. Customize the "From" field with your name or organization.

Additional information:

Income estimates are based on available data and might require further refinement with project specifics.
Rainfall variability and water level management can influence income fluctuations.
Potential agreements with freshwater beneficiaries can offer greater income predictability.
We are confident that further analysis and refinement will strengthen this proposal and bring us closer to realizing its potential benefits.

(th)

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 28,905

Re: Solar Energy Solution to Panama Canal Fresh Water Shortage

From what I can tell the MIT students develope 2 distinct methods one using solar create electrical power which is used to polarize the salt so as to keep it on the other side of the membrane that is use allowing the fresh to pass out of the chamber due to a slope.

yahoo news link in my post.

The new desalination device (a term used to describe a machine that can remove salt from seawater) is roughly the size of a suitcase, weighs less than 10 kilograms, and uses less energy than a cell phone charger, according to a paper published on April 14 in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. At a push of a button, can automatically create potable drinking water that exceeds the World Health Organization’s water quality standards.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/solar-pow … st-dollar4

Aerogel is the separator in some of these images on the page. with chemical dies to show the change.

in the thermal typical method, the chamber made of layers did clog the lowest in salt build up via evaporations

https://news.mit.edu/2023/ article posted

The team’s new system improves on their previous design — a similar concept of multiple layers, called stages. Each stage contained an evaporator and a condenser that used heat from the sun to passively separate salt from incoming water. That design, which the team tested on the roof of an MIT building, efficiently converted the sun’s energy to evaporate water, which was then condensed into drinkable water. But the salt that was left over quickly accumulated as crystals that clogged the system after a few days.

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 28,905

Re: Solar Energy Solution to Panama Canal Fresh Water Shortage

Converting seawater into drinkable water is now more sustainable

Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have made a significant advancement in addressing the global water crisis. The team is using redox flow desalination (RFD) technology to convert seawater into drinkable water, while also harnessing renewable energy.