Melodizer School

Water desalination with innovative techniques:
design and implementations.

April 7-10, 2025  | Politecnico di Torino

Objectives

The Melodizer School provides an in-depth look at the theoretical and practical aspects of innovative water desalination techniques, with a special focus on thermally-driven processes and their coupling with renewable energy.

The course begins with a discussion of experimental and modeling tools. Subsequently, designs, configurations, and implementations of the innovative techniques and related energy supply systems will be presented.

Laboratory experimental activities will be conducted by groups of students, working to obtain freshwater from saline sources using different techniques. The experimental results will be analyzed and presented to the class by the students themselves.

Students from universities participating in the MEloDIZER School will be awarded 5 academic credits for their participation, recognizing their engagement in the program and the knowledge gained through its advanced training sessions.

Location

Program

DAY 1 – Apr 7, Monday

Topic: Design

  • 13:30 – 14:00: Arrival and registrations
  • 14:00 – 15:00: Welcome to MEloDIZER School, project and agenda presentation; participants tour de table presentation

Alberto Tiraferri, Matteo Fasano (Politecnico di Torino) & Eugenio Vecchi

  • 15:00 – 15:55: Theoretical basics: Characteristics of seawater and brackish water. Compositions, concentrations, and osmotic pressure.Gibbs energy and chemical activity. Work of separation.

Andrea Achilli (University of Arizona)

  • 15:55 – 16:15: Time-Break and poster session
  • 16:15 – 17:00: Theoretical basics (continuation)

Andrea Achilli (University of Arizona)

  • 17:00 – 18:00: Industrial seminar: Wastewater quality case studies

Industrial partners (AquaBioTech/Amapex/Inotex/Athenian Brewery)

  • 18:00: Closing of the first day

DAY 2 – Apr 8, Tuesday

Topic: Lab

  • 09:00: Introduction to Day 2
  • 09:00 – 10:30: Membrane-based desalination: Basic notions

Alberto Tiraferri (Politecnico di Torino)

  • 10:30 – 11:00: Time-Break and poster session
  • 11:00 – 12:30: Thermal-based desalination: Basic notions and implementations

Matteo Morciano (Politecnico di Torino)

  • 12:30 – 14:00: Light Lunch
  • 14:00 – 15:25 Lab 1: Membrane distillation (Hands-on)

Andrea Achilli (University of Arizona)

  • 15:25 – 15:45: Time-Break and poster session
  • 15:45 – 17:00: Lab 2: Reverse osmosis (Hands-on)

Andrea Achilli (University of Arizona)

  • 17:00 – 18:00: Lab 3: Sorption-based water treatment (Visit)

Andrea Achilli (University of Arizona)

  • 18:00: Closing of the second day

DAY 3 – Apr 9, Wednesday

Topic: Data Analysis

  • 09:00: Introduction to Day 3
  • 09:00 – 10:00: Seminar: Water & renewables. Coupling with renewable energy

Linda Roca Sobrino (Ciemat)

  • 10:00 – 11:00: Pilots: Energy-Efficient Module Design for Membrane Distillation

Aamer Ali (Aalborg University)

  • 11:00 – 11:30: Time-Break and poster session
  • 11:30 – 12:30: Pilots: Flat sheet MD. Pilot systems and implementations

Alessandro Angelini (DeltaMem AG)

  • 12:30 – 14:00: Light Lunch
  • 14:00 – 15:00: Innovative desalination scale up systems. Innovative processes for desalination: configurations, state-of-the-art, challenges. Experimental and modeling-based design of innovative desalination systems

Kerri Hickenbottom (University of Arizona)

  • 15:00 – 16:25: Group work: Lab data analysis. Preparation of final presentations

Andrea Achilli (University of Arizona)

  • 16:25 – 16:45: Time-Break and poster session
  • 16:45 – 18:00: Group work (continuation): Data analysis

Andrea Achilli (University of Arizona)

  • 18:00: Closing of the third day

DAY 4 – Apr 10, Thursday

Topic: Group Presentations & Wrap-Up

  • 09:00: Introduction to Day 4
  • 09:00 – 10:00: Seminar: other projects RESILIENCE call – Project presentations

Fausto Gallucci (TU Delft)

  • 10:00 – 11:30: Group presentations
  • 11:30 – 12:00: Time-Break and poster session
  • 12:00 – 13:00: Wrap-up and conclusion: Certificates and closing ceremony

How to Participate

  • Fill in our form and pre-register to the event
  • You will receive a confirmation e-mail

Logistic

Hotel tips:

The Registration Includes

  • Lunch breaks
  • Social Dinner
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Guided tours
  • Practical actitivies
  • School material

Organizing Committee