Research Support
SPIRITS

International Collaborative Research Project on Innovation of Desalination Technology with COE of Saudi Arabia

Project Gist

Innovation on technology of seawater desalination by collaborative project between Kyoto University and Saudi Arabian COE

Keywords

water, energy, desalination, multiphase flow, Multi-stage Flash

Background, Purpose, and Project Achievements

In Middle East, the fresh water is obtained from nature very slightly, however, water demand increase continuously due to rapid population growth and industrial development. in order to meet this problem, large amount of fresh water is produced by consuming large amounts of energy. That is, “water problem is energy problem.” Objective of this project is utilization of our knowledge and technology of the thermal fluid engineering that has been cultivated in our laboratory of the Kyoto University in order to contribute to resolving water problems in the Middle East. Our laboratory has been constructed in close cooperation with the center of excellence in desalination technology (CEDT) in the King Abdulaziz University which is one of Saudi Arabia’s leading University, and performed researchers exchange and fundamental experimental research in CEDT.

Future Prospects

Kyoto University side will play a fundamental research and human resource development of Saudi Arabia researcher for the advancement of seawater desalination technology. Saudi Arabia side will launch a large-scale research project for proving new technology, and this is expected to lead to practical use of larger-scale systems.

Figures

Photograph at Center of Excellence in Desalination Technology (CEDT) of King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia
Experimental equipment for desalination research constructed at laboratory in CEDT

Principal Investigator

KUNUGI Tomoaki

・KUNUGI Tomoaki
・Graduate School of Engineering
・Main research topics are direct simulation method of multiphase flow with phase change, molecular thermal engineering on high energy system such as nuclear fusion reactor and laser system, thermal hydraulics on new-type reactor and fast reactor, etc.
http://www.ne.t.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/information/laboratory/person/kunugitomoaki-fold