Submerged Reverse Osmosis Membrane Using Hydrostatic Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current desalination technologies face challenges in scaling for large-scale water production and are costly due to high energy expenditure, especially when relying on land-based methods that do not utilize naturally occurring hydrostatic pressure in the sea.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize the natural hydrostatic pressure of the ocean by submerging a reverse osmosis membrane to a critical depth, allowing seawater to flow through and desalinate water, with the only significant energy required being to lift the filtered water, which can be generated from renewable sources like wind or solar power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If land-based reverse osmosis desalination is used, then fresh water can be produced, but high energy expenditure is required to pressurize seawater
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the ocean's own hydrostatic pressure at depth to drive reverse osmosis through the membrane, eliminating the need for external pressurization systems. The seawater naturally pressurizes itself by being submerged to critical depth, and this self-generated pressure forces water through the RO membrane to produce fresh water.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical pressurization systems (pumps, compressors) with a natural physical phenomenon (hydrostatic pressure). Instead of using mechanical energy to pressurize seawater, the system relies on the weight of the water column at depth to provide the necessary pressure differential across the membrane.
2Quantity of substance
If deep sea infrastructure is built for resource extraction, then ocean resources can be obtained, but high infrastructure costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The deep sea infrastructure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it extracts ocean resources (oil, gas, minerals) and also generates fresh water through reverse osmosis desalination. The same subsea structure that retrieves resources also houses the RO membrane system, allowing one infrastructure investment to produce multiple valuable products and amortize costs across different revenue streams.
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 reduces energy consumption by leveraging ocean pressure for desalination, enabling the production of fresh water with minimal energy expenditure and potentially unlimited supply once infrastructure is built, while also allowing for co-generation of electricity and other ocean resources, thereby amortizing infrastructure costs across multiple valuable products.
Implementation Method 1
a reverse osmosis membrane affixed to a first end, submerging the structure to a depth in a reservoir of salt water, wherein the depth is a function of a critical pressure of activation of operation of the reverse osmosis membrane, allowing a hydrostatic pressure at the depth to force salt water from the reservoir through the reverse osmosis membrane
Implementation Method 2
allowing a hydrostatic pressure at the depth to force salt water from the reservoir through the reverse osmosis membrane
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus and methods for desalination of ocean water using gravity force are described. One example method of desalinating ocean water includes providing a structure having a reverse osmosis membrane affixed to a first end, submerging the structure to a depth in a reservoir of salt water, wherein the depth is a function of a critical pressure of activation of operation of the reverse osmosis membrane, allowing a hydrostatic pressure at the depth to force salt water from the reservoir through the reverse osmosis membrane to cause fresh water to accumulate within a cavity on an inside of the structure; and making the fresh water available for an external use.