Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability

Innovation and Technology Development

PROTOTYPE 1: IMPLEMENT LARGE AREA SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY ABSORBERS

RSA PATENT: 05297 of 2016

F. Muthizongo and L.W. Snyman, “Development of low-cost reflective plate thermal energy absorber systems for application in South Africa”, Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 32(3): 41–56, 2021. (DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2021/v32i3a8044)

  • Increased absorption of Thermal Energy on household rooftop through innovative design and utilising low-cost materials and nanotechnology.
  • 0.30 Rand per kWhr (ten years) versus R2.50 per kWhr from Eskom Grid.

Inventor: Prof L.W. Snyman  (iNanoWS) 

PROTOTYPE 2: STORE THERMAL ENERGY IN A SECOND GEYSER

RSA PATENT: 05297 of 2016

F. Muthizongo and L.W. Snyman, “Development of low-cost reflective plate thermal energy absorber systems for application in South Africa”, Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 32(3): 41–56, 2021. (DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2021/v32i3a8044)

  • Store thermal energy in a second geyser.
  • Use low temp energy to feed washing machine, dishwasher, room heating and utility taps.
  • 0.50 Rand per kWhr (ten years) versus R2.50 per kWhr from Eskom Grid.
  • Reduce load on the Grid.

Inventor: Prof L.W. Snyman  (iNanoWS) 

PROTOTYPE 3: CONVERT STORED THERMAL ENERGY TO ELECTRICITY

RSA PATENT: 07826 of 2016 

L.W. Snyman, “Thermal Energy to electricity extraction system”. Publication: L.W. Snyman and G. Maeko , “Viability of using Solar Thermal-to-Electricity Energy Conversion Systems in South Africa”, Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 32 (4), 2021.

  • Store thermal energy in a second geyser.
  • Much cheaper than to store in batteries.
  • Install T-E Pod to convert thermal energy to electricity.
  • 1.20 Rand per kWhr (ten years) versus R2.50 per kWhr from Eskom Grid.

Inventor: Prof L.W. Snyman  (iNanoWS) 

PROTOTYPE 4: INSTALL LOW-COST SA MADE UPS SYSTEMS 

RSA PATENT: 04789 of 2015

L.W. Snyman and R. Kene, “Electronic controller for household energy control based on timing and tariff data”.

  • It is possible to construct low-cost un-interruptible electricity supply systems using a verity of devices from SA stores.
  • Each system serves a specific application, making management specific and easier.
  • Develop own subcomponents by local manufacturing.

Inventor: Prof L.W. Snyman  (iNanoWS) 

PROTOTYPE 5: DEVELOP LOW-COST SA ENERGY STORAGE BATTERY 

RSA PATENT: (in Process) 

Publication: “Mesfin A. Kebede, Spyros N. Yannopoulos, Labrini Sygellou, and Kenneth I. Ozoemena, High-Voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4-δ Spinel Material Synthesized by Microwave-Assisted Thermo-Polymerization: Some Insights into the Microwave-Enhancing Physico-Chemistry, J. Electrochem. Soc. 164 (2017) A3259-A3265.

  • SA contains huge resources of in-house minerals such as Manganese, Zinc, Platinum.
  • These minerals, together with suitable analytes, can be used to develop our own energy storage battery.
  • Cost efficiency aspects could most favourably compte with imported products.

Inventor: Prof M.A. Kebede (iNanoWS) 

PROTOTYPE 6: VIS/IR LED PHOTOCATALYTIC REACTOR FOR WATER TREATMENT

IP DiSCLOSURE: (in Process) 

  • Photorectors come in different designs and sizes. 
  • LEDs have emerged as preferable devices for long-life application in photorectors.
  • Cost efficiency of LEDs compete and outperform most imported  products.

Inventor: Prof A.T. Kuvarega  (iNanoWS) 

LOW-COST WATER PURIFIER AND DESALLINATOR

Ground water containing minerals and salts are circulated through a membrane system and a thermal activation process. Fresh water moves through the membranes and are collected on the cold side of the membranes and stored in a secondary reservoir.

SALEABLE PRODUCTS AND ZERO WASTE FROM ACID MINE WATER

Mine water rich in metals sulphate can be treated in an integrated process (neutralization/desalination/bine treatment through freeze crystallization /thermal treatment) to recover valuable products, such as pigment and drinking water.

SALEABLE PRODUCTS AND ZERO WASTE FROM ACID MINE WATER WITH THE ROC (REVERSE OSMOSIS/COOLING) TECHNOLOGY)  

Application 1. Pigment recovery and production of drinking water

Through partial neutralization to pH 3.5, ferric hydroxide can be recovered selectively from iron-rich acid mine water, which can be processed through heat treatment to pigment, a commodity that is imported by SA. By raising the pH further to 8, for removal of the remaining metals, including calcium, the water is treated with reverse osmosis to produce drinking water and brine with a high concentration of 90 g/L, to be further processed with freeze crystallization.

Application 2. Brine treatment with freeze crystallization

Brine from desalination plants (mine or sea water brine) can be treated through freeze crystallization to recover water and sodium sulphate from mine water brine and sodium chloride from seawater brine.

Application 3. Thermal treatment

Salt, such as gypsum and sodium sulphate, can be processed through thermal treatment to CaCO3 and Na2CO3 respectively. Sulphur and rare earth metals can be recovered from phosphogypsum from the fertilizer industry.

Application 4. Use treated mine water for intensive farming

SA produce 570 mega litre per day of mine water.  If 20 cubic water of is used per hectare, 28 500 mine land is needed for intensive farming. If 7 jobs are needed for crop production, processing, packaging and distribution, a total number of 200 000 jobs will be created.

PATENTS 

ROC process T Mtombeni and J P Maree (2014) Treatment of water – ROC process, ROC Water Technologies, RSA (No 2015/04639), Germany  (No 3452414), France (No 3452414), Australia (No 2016405754 – Pending), USA No 16/099,009 – Pending)

Pipe Freeze Crystallization J P Maree (2018) Pipe Freeze Crystallization, ROC Water Technologies, Provisional Application No: 2018/04084, RSA No: 2019/03795, Australia No: 201204324 (pending), Canada No: 3,092,764 (pending), USA No: 17,027,873.

Sodium carbonate production Van Vuuren D S, Maree J P (2020) Production of sodium carbonate from sodium sulphate, Provisional Patent Appl. No 2020/07178, University of Pretoria and University of Limpopo, Filing date: 18 November 2020; PCT patent application (2022).

Nano calcium carbonate Maree J P, van Vuuren D S, (2021) Production of nano calcium carbonate, Provisional Patent Appl. 2021/07244, University of Limpopo and ROC Water Technologies, Filing date: 29 Sept 2021; RSA patent (2022)

Last modified: 2023/10/13