MECO Gets Green Light from Office of Naval Research to Build Prototype
SUGAR LAND, TEXAS – The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has selected MECO’s design of a new shipboard advanced desalination unit for prototype construction. The 100,000 GPD (gallons per day) unit is the second step in a multiphase ONR Future Naval Capability program aimed at introducing new desalination capabilities to the Navy fleet.
Plans are for the prototype to be demonstrated in a U.S. Navy Tarawa-class LHA Amphibious Assault Ship that currently uses multi stage flash distillation. The new system design will use membrane technology to produce both ultra-pure water for ship process needs as well as potable water for the ship’s crew. The plant is designed to minimize sailor intervention for operation and maintenance while improving reliability and life cycle costs.
“This award by ONR is exciting news for our company,” said Kim Klein, Chief Engineer of MECO. “It advances our mission to be a trusted resource to the U.S. Military while allowing MECO to continue the development of water purification solutions using the latest membrane technologies.”
The United States maintains the largest and most capable amphibious force in the world. The Tarawa-class LHAs and Wasp-class LHDs provide the Marine Corps with means of ship-to-shore movement by helicopter in addition to movement by landing craft. The Office of Naval Research coordinates, executes and promotes the science and technology programs of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.
MECO has a history of providing products and services to the U.S. Armed Forces since World War II. The company’s military products include mobile water purification plants, pumps and marine heat exchangers. In conjunction with Teledyne Scientific and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), MECO is developing technologies to further reduce weight, space and energy for man portable desalination. MECO is currently under contract with the U.S. Army TACOM for production of the Lightweight Water Purifier (LWP). The LWP represents current state of the art technology for small mobile water and desalination needs.
About MECO
MECO is a manufacturer of engineered products for water purification serving multiple industries. MECO is also the world’s leading producer of water purification plants for offshore oil and gas platforms and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries where ultra-pure water is the primary ingredient in the drug manufacturing process. MECO is a Louisiana based company with manufacturing facilities in Houston, Texas and Covington, La.