US-12623930-B2 - Apparatus, method and system for desalinating water using energy recovery

US12623930B2US 12623930 B2US12623930 B2US 12623930B2US-12623930-B2

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method to purify water is disclosed. Pumps and energy recovery devices for taking water from an intake, filtering the water to remove solid contaminates before running the filtered water through the reverse osmosis system to the discharge device and purified water lines are described. The system may comprise a control panel that controls the plurality of filters, plurality of reverse osmosis membranes, purified water line and effluent discharge device, to achieve favorable water purification. A method that utilizes the apparatus and/or system is described herein.

Inventors

Gary P. Katz

Assignees

KATZ WATER TECH, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220510

Claims (20)

1 . A method comprising: a. obtaining at least one reverse osmosis housing device for holding a plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the at least one reverse osmosis housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, and wherein at least one connection of the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid is a fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid with the at least one reverse osmosis housing device; b. operating a control device for the at least one reverse osmosis housing device configured to hold a plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; c. automatically inserting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid into the at least one reverse osmosis housing device using an automated insertion device, wherein the membranes are connected to fluid and power connections that align and correspond to the housing device; d. obtaining a plurality of energy recovery devices for recapturing pressure energy from water running through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and returning the pressure energy to move additional water through at least a portion of the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; e. using the control device to coordinate energy recovery from the plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid f. using energy from the plurality of energy recovery devices to move water through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; and g. removing brine from the water being moved through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid from the at least one reverse osmosis housing device.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices is located on a skid and further comprising obtaining at least one energy recovery housing device for holding the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the at least one reverse osmosis housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, and wherein at least one connection on the at least one reverse osmosis housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid is a fluid line connecting the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid with the at least one energy recovery housing.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid is a container with automated equipment and further comprising using the automated insertion device for inserting and removing the container with automated equipment, and wherein the automated insertion device is operated by the control device.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: a. using an inlet device for obtaining the water; b. using at least one pump for moving the water from the inlet device to at least one reverse osmosis housing device; and c. using at least one filter for removing particles in the water.
6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising removing the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid from the at least one energy recovery housing.
7 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising inserting the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid from the at least one energy recovery housing.
8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid is a container with automated energy recovery equipment and further comprising using the automated energy recovery equipment for inserting and removing the container with automated equipment and operating the automated energy recovery equipment with the control device.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using automated connections and disconnects for the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising lowering an inlet device having a tubular section that is at least partially submerged into a body of water; and using a plurality of pumps located on a skid for moving the water through the tubular section on the inlet device to water purification equipment located on a plurality of skids.
11 . A water purification method comprising: a. obtaining a reverse osmosis housing device for holding a plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the reverse osmosis housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, and wherein at least one connection is a fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid with the reverse osmosis housing device; b. obtaining a plurality of energy recovery devices for recapturing pressure energy from water running through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and returning the pressure energy to move additional water through at least a portion of the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; c. automatically inserting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid into the at least one reverse osmosis housing device using an automated insertion device, wherein the membranes are connected to fluid and power connections that align and correspond to the reverse osmosis housing device; d. using the energy recovery from the plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid to move water through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; and e. removing brine from the water being moved through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; and f. using a discharge device for discharging brine from the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid.
12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising a. using an inlet device for obtaining the water; b. using at least one pump for moving the water from the inlet device to at least one reverse osmosis housing device; and c. using at least one filter for removing particles in the water.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising using automated connections and disconnects for the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising lowering an inlet device having a tubular section that is at least partially submerged into a body of water; and using a plurality of pumps located on a skid for moving the water through the tubular section on the inlet device to water purification equipment located on a plurality of skids.
15 . A method comprising: a. obtaining a system comprising; an inlet device; at least one pump for moving water from the inlet device to water purification equipment; at least one filter to remove particles in the water; at least one reverse osmosis housing device for holding a plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the at least one reverse osmosis housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, and wherein at least one connection is a fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid with the at least one reverse osmosis housing device; a plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid for recapturing pressure energy from water running through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes and returning the pressure energy to move additional water through at least a portion of the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes, at least one energy recovery housing device for holding the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the at least one energy recovery housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, and wherein at least one connection on the at least one energy recovery housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid is a fluid line connecting the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid with the at least one energy recovery housing device; a discharge device for discharging the brine from the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes; a plurality of sensors; and a control device that is connected to the plurality of sensors and can the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes and the plurality of energy recovery devices in a coordinated manner; b. automatically inserting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid into the at least one reverse osmosis housing device using an automated insertion device, wherein the membranes are connected to fluid and power connections that align and correspond to the reverse osmosis housing device; c. using energy from the plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid to move water through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; and d. removing brine from the water being moved through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: a. using the inlet device for obtaining the water; b. using the at least one pump for moving water from the inlet device to water purification equipment; and c. using the at least one filter to remove particles in the water.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising removing the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid from the at least one energy recovery housing device.
18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising inserting the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid from the at least one energy recovery housing device.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid is a container with automated energy recovery equipment and further comprising using the automated energy recovery equipment for inserting and removing the container with automated equipment and operating the automated energy recovery equipment with the control device.
20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising using automated connections and disconnects for the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This non-provisional patent application claims priority to co-pending United States non-provisional patent application having the Ser. No. 16/688,918, filed on Nov. 19, 2019 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,325,849 on May 10, 2022 which claimed priority to co-pending U.S. non-provisional patent application having the Ser. No. 15/614,603, filed on Jun. 5, 2017 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,479,706 on Nov. 19, 2019 which claimed priority to U.S. patent provisional application having the Ser. No. 62/345,077, filed Jun. 3, 2016 which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to the field of reducing the contaminate concentration of water or desalination. In one embodiment, this invention relates generally to the field of industrial and municipal water supply. In a specific embodiment, this invention generally relates to using an offshore structure to desalinate water and transporting the desalinated water to land for use in industrial, agricultural and municipal water supplies. BACKGROUND This section introduces the reader to various aspects of art, which may be associated with embodiments of the present invention. This discussion is helpful in providing the reader with information to facilitate a better understanding of particular techniques of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art. The world is running out of potable fresh water. Worldwide, an estimated 700 million people cannot obtain enough clean water. In the next 10 years, the number is projected to increase to approximately 1.8 billion people. In some regions, obtaining fresh water from seawater may be the only viable way to increase supply of fresh water. Parts of the West coast of the United States, especially California, has been in a severe long-term drought. This long-term drought has stressed the water resources of the region. The environmental damage includes damage to the ecology and hydrology from diminishing groundwater and acquirer water resources that are being excessively depleted to provide the water requirements of individuals, agriculture and industry. Furthermore, the lack of sufficient water supply is hurting the economy by forcing the region to charge more for water resources and shutting down some water intensive industries and businesses. In the past, desalination plants have been proposed to resolve the fresh water resources problem. Reverse osmosis (“RO”) plants have been delivering desalinated water for decades to regions with limited water resources. However, the high cost to build and operate the RO plants historically made the plants uneconomical for most regions. Accordingly, the major issue of RO technology is that it costs too much. The RO process requires significant energy to force salt water against polymer membranes that have pores small enough to let fresh water through while holding salt ions back. New plants, using innovative technology, such as, the Sorek plant in Israel have significantly reduced the cost per cubic volume versus conventional desalination plants. The Sorek plant, with a capacity of over 150 million gallons per day of desalinated water, has significantly reduced energy consumption through technological advances and economics of scale using scalable designs. For example, the Sorek plant incorporates a number of engineering improvements to increase efficiencies over previous RO facilities. This technology includes utilizing larger pressure tubes that are 16 inches in diameter rather than eight inches. The larger pressure tubes require only a fourth as much piping and other hardware, slashing costs. The facility uses highly efficient pumps and energy recovery devices. In addition, new technologies are being developed such as, advanced membranes made of atom-thick sheets of carbon, which hold the promise of further cutting the energy requirements of desalination plants. While this technology has improved the economics of RO desalination, there are still many additional problems to be solved. One problem is the lack of available waterfront land in many regions from over development along the coastlines and developmental restrictions including Not-In-My-Backyard or “NIMBYism.” Offshore desalination has been proposed and desalination has been done on ships. There have been proposals to construct large-scale desalination plants on barges or offshore structures. However, the barges, ships and offshore structures being proposed are difficult to install and are not designed to effectively handle large scale desalination. Accordingly, there is a need for an offshores structure apparatus, system and method that facilitates efficient setup of large scale desalination units that can efficiently purify large volumes of water. Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein satisfies these needs. The disposal of the highl