Coppe and Brazilian Navy Research Institute develop mobile water and energy system
Planeta COPPE / Energy / Mechanical Engineering / News
Date: 08/01/2026
Coppe/UFRJ researchers have developed, in partnership with the Brazilian Navy Research Institute (IPqM), the Mobile Water and Energy System (SISMAE), an integrated technological solution that significantly amplifies the capacity of rapid response to natural disasters, humanitarian operations and missions in remote regions. The system was set up and installed a Marine Corps trailer and inaugurated on December 8th at IPqM, with field tests conducted by the troops themselves, demonstrating its robustness and operational applicability.
Developed at Coppe’s Nano and Microfluidics and Microsystems Laboratory (LabMems) of Coppe, under the coordination of Professor Carolina Cotta, from the Mechanical Engineering Program, SISMAE represents a significant advance in applied research by integrating electricity generation and potable water production into a single transportable system. This integration allows for increased logistical autonomy, reduced critical vulnerabilities in the field and minimized dependence on external supply chains, especially in crisis scenarios.
From a technological standpoint, the system combines a diesel generator with a membrane desalination module, utilizing the residual heat from power generation to enable the production of potable water. This reuse of thermal energy increases the global efficiency of the system, reduces energy losses and contributes to a more reliable, compact, and sustainable solution. This is a concrete example of how research in thermal engineering, microfluidics and integrated systems can generate innovative solutions with a direct impact on society.
In addition to the immediate benefit in disaster situations — in which rapid access to drinking water and electricity is crucial to saving lives and restoring essential services — the project also strengthens national technological capacity in strategic areas such as defense, security and civil protection. SISMAE meets the needs of the Brazilian Navy in amphibious missions, temporary bases, and advanced hard-to-reach points, but it was also designed for dual use, being able to support emergency actions aimed at the civilian population.
Coordinated by Professor Carolina Cotta, the project received support from CAPES, through the Procad Defesa program, and the Marine Corps Technological Center (CTecCFN), and highlights COPPE’s role as a center of excellence in research that transforms scientific knowledge into concrete solutions for the country’s complex challenges. Beyond the equipment itself, the development of SISMAE has generated knowledge, trained researchers, and opened new possibilities for applying the technology in civilian and humanitarian contexts, expanding the social reach of academic research.
