Modular Desalination Buoy with Vertical RO and Dynamic Ballast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for providing fresh water to arid coastal communities face challenges such as dependence on rainfall for freshwater sources, high costs and long delivery times for onshore desalination plants, and instability and environmental concerns for marine-based desalination systems, particularly due to their vulnerability to extreme weather conditions and aesthetic impacts.
Innovation Solution
A modular water desalination system (MWDS) comprising a processing buoy with vertically oriented Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane elements, a brine discharge system, and a modular post-treatment station, which operates below the ocean surface and uses a dynamic ballast system to stabilize the buoy, reducing environmental impact and operational costs while providing a reliable water supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If onshore desalination plants are built to provide fresh water, then fresh water supply is improved, but project delivery time and cost increase due to environmental permitting and construction requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The desalination system is divided into modular units that can be deployed independently. Each module contains complete desalination equipment, allowing the system to be scaled by adding or removing modules rather than building a single large plant that requires extensive permitting and construction time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an offshore floating platform as an intermediary between the ocean and the coastal community. This platform hosts the desalination equipment in offshore waters, avoiding the need for onshore construction and environmental permitting while still delivering fresh water to the coast.
2Reliability
If onshore desalination plants are built to provide fresh water, then fresh water supply is improved, but construction costs increase due to expensive coastal property and environmental compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The offshore floating platform serves as an intermediary that relocates the desalination facility from expensive onshore coastal property to offshore waters. This avoids the need to purchase or lease costly land while still providing fresh water to the coastal community.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses standardized, factory-built modular units that can be manufactured offsite and then deployed to the offshore platform. This modular construction approach reduces on-site construction costs and complexity compared to building a custom onshore plant.
3Loss of time
If marine-based desalination systems are deployed to provide fresh water, then project delivery time is reduced, but vessel stability deteriorates due to raised center of gravity from horizontal RO systems on deck
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the RO systems horizontally on the deck above the waterline, the patent inverts the arrangement by placing the RO systems vertically within the buoyant structure. This inversion lowers the center of gravity and improves vessel stability while maintaining the rapid deployment advantages of marine-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a horizontal spatial arrangement of RO systems on the deck to a vertical arrangement within the buoy structure. This dimensional change allows the systems to be contained within the buoy's volume rather than occupying deck space, improving stability without sacrificing deployment speed.
4Loss of time
If marine-based desalination systems are deployed to provide fresh water, then rapid deployment is achieved, but environmental impact increases due to brine pooling around discharge pipes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a diffuser system as an intermediary between the brine discharge and the marine environment. This diffuser disperses the brine into smaller streams and promotes mixing with surrounding seawater, reducing the concentration of harmful substances in any single location while maintaining the rapid deployment capability of the system.
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
The MWDS effectively addresses the challenges by providing a stable, efficient, and environmentally friendly method for desalination, reducing the need for extensive infrastructure and minimizing marine environmental impact, while ensuring a consistent water supply during droughts.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of water treatment systems, one of the plurality of water treatment systems supported in each of the plurality of compartments and includes a plurality of Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane elements
Implementation Method 2
A modular water desalination system (MWDS) comprising a processing buoy with vertically oriented Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane elements, a brine discharge system, and a modular post-treatment station, which operates below the ocean surface and uses a dynamic ballast system to stabilize the buoy
Data Source
AI summary
A modular distributed desalination system including a desalination buoy interconnected to a landside post-treatment station. The desalination buoy further includes a dynamic ballast system, a reverse osmosis system, an integral media filter, and intake screen, and a brine diffuser system.