Hydraulic-Arm Batch-RO Desalination for High Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current desalination technologies face challenges in achieving high energy efficiency and recovery rates under fixed flow and variable pressure conditions, particularly in batch-RO processes, where the intrinsic volume decline and permeate accumulation lead to increased energy demand and decreased water quality over cycles.
Innovation Solution
A batch-RO apparatus utilizing a hydraulic-arm concept with a pressure-vessel, separation disc, and mixing device, where pressurized hydraulic fluid is used to compress a recycled salt water solution through RO membranes, maintaining constant flux and cross-flow rates, and incorporating a low-pressure feed pump for brine replacement and recharge, managed by a computerized control board for optimized operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If batch-RO process operates under fixed flow and variable pressure conditions with declining intrinsic volume, then energy efficiency is improved, but permeate quality deteriorates over cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic batch cycles where the system alternates between desalination operation and recharge phases. Each batch cycle maintains optimal pressure and volume conditions, resetting the system state periodically to prevent quality deterioration while sustaining energy efficiency gains throughout extended operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters including pressure, volume, and flow rates during batch cycles. By optimizing these parameters for each specific cycle stage and resetting them during recharge phases, the system maintains both energy efficiency and permeate quality over multiple consecutive batches
2Productivity
If high recovery rate is achieved through prolonged batch operation, then water production increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The batch-RO system operates in periodic cycles with defined duration T, alternating between active desalination and recharge phases. This periodic operation allows the system to accumulate productive batches while controlling energy input, achieving high overall recovery rates without proportionally increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically optimizes batch duration and operational parameters based on real-time conditions. By adjusting cycle timing and operating points, the system maximizes water production per unit energy consumed, preventing the linear increase in energy demand that would otherwise accompany prolonged high-recovery operation
3Volume of stationary object
If intrinsic volume is reduced to improve energy efficiency, then system compactness improves, but cycle duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic batch cycling to compensate for the time penalty of reduced volume. By optimizing the rhythm and frequency of batches, the system achieves high productivity from compact hardware, where the cumulative output over multiple rapid cycles offsets the extended duration of individual batches
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous productive operation through back-to-back batch cycles with minimal idle time. The recharge phase is efficiently integrated to enable rapid succession of batches, ensuring that the compact system operates continuously at high intensity, thereby minimizing total cycle time despite reduced volume constraints
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables high recovery with low energy consumption, maintaining permeate quality and productivity, outperforming existing techniques like CCD, with the ability to handle high salinity effluents and achieve near-zero liquid discharge, suitable for small-scale applications.
Implementation Method 1
reverse osmosis (RO) comprises a RO-skid with one module of a selected number of membrane elements
Implementation Method 2
pressurized hydraulic fluid received from a high pressure hydraulic pump (HPHP) compresses a recycled salt water solution
Implementation Method 3
a circulation pump for concentrate recycling from outlet to inlet of said pressure vessel
Implementation Method 4
the 1st step of brine replacement by feed in said RO-skid and a small section of said HA, and the 2nd step of salt water solution recharge of said HA with hydraulic fluid displacement to its hydraulic fluid reservoir (HFR)
Data Source
AI summary
An inventive apparatus for closed circuit batch-RO desalination comprising a RO-skid with membrane elements and circulation means for the recycling of RO concentrate through membranes and a designed hydraulic-arm with a disc separating between a section of pressurized hydraulic fluid created by a high pressure hydraulic pump under fixed flow and variable pressure conditions and a section of RO recycled concentrates. The batch desalination sequence is completed when the entire hydraulic-arm volume is filled with hydraulic fluid and thereafter, desalination is stopped, said apparatus decompressed, brine removed and hydraulic-arm recharged with fresh feed before the initiation of a new batch sequence. The inventive apparatus enables RO desalination under the lowest energy and highest recovery prospects not possible by any other RO technique.