A submersible water desalination apparatus includes a plurality of water separation membrane elements, a product water collector that receives product water from the membrane elements, and a variable output motorized submersible pump having a suction side that receives product water from the product water collector and a discharge side that pumps product water away from the apparatus through a product water conduit for surface or subsurface use. At least a portion of the product water is used to cool the motor.
A green hydrogen production system and method uses an offshore platform, an offshore renewable energy source, a submerged water desalination apparatus and a water electrolysis apparatus to produce hydrogen and oxygen using power from the renewable energy source and desalinated water from the submerged water desalination apparatus. The system and method enable green hydrogen production with reduced energy use or capital cost compared to onshore systems and systems that do not employ a submerged water desalination apparatus.
A submerged offshore reverse osmosis desalination apparatus and method uses desalinated product water from the apparatus and an onshore cooler or heat exchanger to provide or improve the cooling of an onshore Rankine Cycle heat engine.
F04F 1/08 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
C02F 103/00 - Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
F04F 1/20 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium being mixed with, or generated from, the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
5.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION USING SUBMERGED DESALINATION SYSTEM
A green hydrogen production system and method uses an offshore platform, an offshore renewable energy source, a submerged water desalination apparatus and a water electrolysis apparatus to produce hydrogen and oxygen using power from the renewable energy source and desalinated water from the submerged water desalination apparatus. The system and method enable green hydrogen production with reduced energy use or capital cost compared to onshore systems and systems that do not employ a submerged water desalination apparatus.
A submersible reverse osmosis desalination apparatus uses low temperature concentrate or brine from the desalination apparatus to provide a high volume cold liquid stream to an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) heat engine. The OTEC engine also employs a warm liquid stream and uses the cold and warm liquid streams to obtain electrical power from a closed-cycle or open-cycle heat exchange and generator system. Use of the concentrate or brine stream provides a much greater liquid volume and much greater cold thermal energy content than would be obtained by using cold desalinated product water from the desalination apparatus in the OTEC heat engine.
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes a plurality of water separation membrane elements that when supplied with salinated water under pressure at a first depth will produce at least partially desalinated product water and concentrate or brine; a product water collector that receives product water from the membrane elements; and a permeate conduit that transports product water from the collector downwardly to a motorized submersible pump remotely located from the membrane elements and collector at a second depth greater than the first depth. The second depth is sufficiently greater than the first depth so that the height of a standing column of product water in the product water collector and permeate conduit between the membrane elements and the suction side of the pump maintains a net positive suction head that prevents inlet side cavitation during pump startup and operation.
A desalination brine dispersal apparatus and method employ airlift to remove, oxygenate and disperse brine from a desalination apparatus. The apparatus includes a brine removal conduit having a brine inlet that receives brine from the desalination apparatus, a plurality of brine outlets submerged in seawater and one or more air introduction points located at depths below the brine outlets. The supplied air oxygenates and moves brine through the brine removal conduit and outlets via airlift and disperses the brine into seawater away from the brine removal conduit. The apparatus avoids the formation of concentrated, high shear brine plumes and can disperse brine into seawater over a wide area well away from the brine removal conduit.
B01D 65/08 - Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
C02F 1/44 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
C02F 1/76 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with halogens or compounds of halogens
C02F 1/78 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with ozone
F04F 1/08 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
C02F 103/00 - Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
F04F 1/20 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium being mixed with, or generated from, the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
13.
SUBMERGED WATER DESALINATION SYSTEM WITH REPLACEABLE DOCKABLE MEMBRANE MODULES
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes an array of hot-swappable water separation membrane modules arrayed in an approximately polygonal configuration around a product water collection conduit that represents or is proximate to and generally aligned with a central axis of the array; a plurality of hot-swap product water valves connected to the conduit and detachably connected to generally radially-extending product water collection manifolds in fluid communication with a plurality of water separation membrane cartridges within the modules; the modules having in cross-section generally tapered module sides that converge towards the conduit and assist in underwater docking and attachment of a replacement module to a hot-swap product water valve.
A desalination brine dispersal apparatus and method employ airlift to remove, oxygenate and disperse brine from a desalination apparatus. The apparatus includes a brine removal conduit having a brine inlet that receives brine from the desalination apparatus, a plurality of brine outlets submerged in seawater and one or more air introduction points located at depths below the brine outlets. The supplied air oxygenates and moves brine through the brine removal conduit and outlets via airlift and disperses the brine into seawater away from the brine removal conduit. The apparatus avoids the formation of concentrated, high shear brine plumes and can disperse brine into seawater over a wide area well away from the brine removal conduit.
B01D 65/08 - Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
C02F 1/00 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
C02F 1/44 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
C02F 1/76 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with halogens or compounds of halogens
C02F 1/78 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with ozone
F04F 1/08 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
C02F 103/00 - Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
F04F 1/20 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium being mixed with, or generated from, the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
15.
Submerged water desalination system pump lubricated with product water
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes a plurality of water separation membrane elements, a product water collector that receives product water from the membrane elements, and a variable output motorized submersible pump having a suction side that receives product water from the product water collector and a discharge side that pumps product water away from the apparatus through a product water conduit for surface or subsurface use. At least a portion of the product water is used to lubricate and optionally also cool at least a portion of the pump, motor or both the pump and motor.
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes a plurality of water separation membrane elements, a product water collector that receives product water from the membrane elements, and a variable output motorized submersible pump having a suction side that receives product water from the product water collector and a discharge side that pumps product water away from the apparatus through a product water conduit for surface or subsurface use. An automatic control or coupling is employed to reduce the pump output upon the occurrence or onset of suction side cavitation, and discourage or prevent cavitation over a range of product water flow rates from the membrane elements.
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes an array of generally parallel water separation membrane cartridges each having a water separation membrane, an impermeable cartridge wall surrounding the membrane, and a product water collection tube that collects from inside the cartridges at least partially desalinated product water passing through the membrane, and through which the at least partially desalinated water exits the cartridges and enters a product water collection manifold. The cartridges are mounted in a perforated divider plate. In embodiments, a) the manifold is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the collection tubes, orb) the divider plate is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the cartridge walls or ends, or both a) and b). The adhesive reduces the likelihood of leakage at the manifold or divider plate.
A submerged offshore reverse osmosis desalination apparatus and method uses product water from the apparatus and an onshore cooler or heat exchanger to provide or improve the cooling of a Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC) system, power plant, data center, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system, or Rankine Cycle heat engine.
F04F 1/08 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
B01D 65/08 - Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
C02F 1/76 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with halogens or compounds of halogens
C02F 1/78 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with ozone
C02F 103/00 - Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
F04F 1/20 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium being mixed with, or generated from, the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes an array of hot-swappable water separation membrane modules arrayed in an approximately polygonal configuration around a product water collection conduit that represents or is proximate to and generally aligned with a central axis of the array; a plurality of hot-swap product water valves connected to the conduit and detachably connected to generally radially-extending product water collection manifolds in fluid communication with a plurality of water separation membrane cartridges within the modules; the modules having in cross-section generally tapered module sides that converge towards the conduit and assist in underwater docking and attachment of a replacement module to a hot-swap product water valve.
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes a plurality of water separation membrane elements that when supplied with salinated water under pressure at a first depth will produce at least partially desalinated product water and concentrate or brine; a product water collector that receives product water from the membrane elements; and a permeate conduit that transports product water from the collector downwardly to a motorized submersible pump remotely located from the membrane elements and collector at a second depth greater than the first depth. The second depth is sufficiently greater than the first depth so that the height of a standing column of product water in the product water collector and permeate conduit between the membrane elements and the suction side of the pump maintains a net positive suction head that prevents inlet side cavitation during pump startup and operation.
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes an array of generally parallel water separation membrane cartridges each having a water separation membrane, an impermeable cartridge wall surrounding the membrane, and a product water collection tube that collects from inside the cartridges at least partially desalinated product water passing through the membrane, and through which the at least partially desalinated water exits the cartridges and enters a product water collection manifold. The cartridges are mounted in a perforated divider plate. In embodiments, a) the manifold is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the collection tubes, or b) the divider plate is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the cartridge walls or ends, or both a) and b). The adhesive reduces the likelihood of leakage at the manifold or divider plate.
A submersible reverse osmosis desalination apparatus uses low temperature concentrate or brine from the desalination apparatus to provide a high volume cold liquid stream to an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) heat engine. The OTEC engine also employs a warm liquid stream and uses the cold and warm liquid streams to obtain electrical power from a closed-cycle or open-cycle heat exchange and generator system. Use of the concentrate or brine stream provides a much greater liquid volume and much greater cold thermal energy content than would be obtained by using cold desalinated product water from the desalination apparatus in the OTEC heat engine.
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes a plurality of water separation membrane elements, a product water collector that receives product water from the membrane elements, and a variable output motorized submersible pump having a suction side that receives product water from the product water collector and a discharge side that pumps product water away from the apparatus through a product water conduit for surface or subsurface use. An automatic control or coupling is employed to reduce the pump output upon the occurrence or onset of suction side cavitation, and discourage or prevent cavitation over a range of product water flow rates from the membrane elements.
A submersible water desalination apparatus includes a plurality of water separation membrane elements, a product water collector that receives product water from the membrane elements, and a variable output motorized submersible pump having a suction side that receives product water from the product water collector and a discharge side that pumps product water away from the apparatus through a product water conduit for surface or subsurface use. At least a portion of the product water is used to lubricate and optionally also cool at least a portion of the pump, motor or both the pump and motor.
A desalination brine dispersal apparatus and method employ airlift to remove, oxygenate and disperse brine from a desalination apparatus. The apparatus includes a brine removal conduit having a brine inlet that receives brine from the desalination apparatus, a plurality of brine outlets submerged in seawater and one or more air introduction points located at depths below the brine outlets. The supplied air oxygenates and moves brine through the brine removal conduit and outlets via airlift and disperses the brine into seawater away from the brine removal conduit. The apparatus avoids the formation of concentrated, high shear brine plumes and can disperse brine into seawater over a wide area well away from the brine removal conduit.
B01D 65/08 - Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
F04F 1/08 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
F04F 1/20 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium being mixed with, or generated from, the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
A submersible reverse osmosis desalination apparatus and method employs airlift to remove desalinated water from the apparatus via as annular flow regime over a substantial portion of the product water discharge conduit. Use of a high air fraction for airlift operation and an annular flow regime significantly lowers the weight of the product water column, as well as the backpressure on the downstream side of the osmotic membranes and at the bottom of the discharge water conduit. This permits deployment of the apparatus at reduced depths and in many eases closer to shore. In preferred embodiments the apparatus relies wholly upon hydrostatic pressure to drive seawater through the osmotic membranes, and continuously desalinates seawater and delivers pure water to the discharge water conduit without using any submerged moving parts subject to wear or breakage.
B01D 65/08 - Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
C02F 1/76 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with halogens or compounds of halogens
C02F 1/78 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with ozone
F04F 1/08 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
F04F 1/20 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium being mixed with, or generated from, the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells
