Tidal Current Turbine Driven Booster Pump for Seawater Desalination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seawater desalination devices face high energy consumption, low desalination efficiency due to inability to utilize tidal current energy directly for pressure boosting, and environmental pollution from direct discharge of high-pressure brine, which cannot be recycled.
Innovation Solution
A device integrating a tidal current turbine, booster pump, and unsteady reverse osmosis membrane with a flow battery, where the tidal current turbine drives the booster pump to increase seawater pressure, reducing concentration polarization and enabling efficient desalination and power generation, with the high-pressure brine driving the flow battery for electricity production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional seawater desalination devices are used, then the desalination process can be performed, but the energy consumption is large because tidal current energy cannot be directly used to boost seawater pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tidal current turbine and booster pump into an integrated system where the turbine directly drives the pump through a shared shaft, merging energy generation and pressure boosting functions into one unified mechanism that eliminates energy loss between separate systems
Solution Approach 2:
The tidal current turbine system serves multiple functions: it generates mechanical energy to drive the booster pump for pressure boosting, and the high-pressure brine subsequently drives the flow battery to generate electricity, creating a multi-functional energy utilization system
2Productivity
If conventional reverse osmosis desalination is used, then seawater can be desalinated, but the concentration polarization phenomenon cannot be removed, resulting in low desalination efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic pressure modulation through the tidal current-driven booster pump, creating unsteady high-pressure conditions that generate turbulence in the feed water flow, dynamically disrupting the concentration polarization layer at the membrane surface
Solution Approach 2:
The tidal current turbine's rotation and the booster pump's operation create mechanical disturbances and vibrations in the water flow that prevent the formation of a stable concentration polarization boundary layer, enhancing mass transfer at the membrane interface
3Ease of manufacture
If high pressure strong brine is directly discharged, then the desalination process can be completed, but the desalination costs increase and the environment is polluted because the brine cannot be recycled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high-pressure brine waste stream into a beneficial energy source by using it to drive the flow battery, transforming an environmental pollutant into a useful resource for electricity generation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the high-pressure brine, the system recovers energy from it by channeling it through the flow battery mechanism, capturing the potential energy in the pressurized brine and converting it to electrical energy
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 device achieves low investment costs and high desalination efficiency by effectively utilizing tidal current energy for pressure boosting, improving desalination efficiency and transforming tidal energy into electricity while recycling brine for power generation, thus reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The tidal current turbine drives the booster pump supplied with pretreated seawater through a revolving shaft
Implementation Method 2
a tidal current turbine, a coupling, a revolving shaft, a booster pump
Implementation Method 3
the tidal current turbine drives the booster pump supplied with pretreated seawater through a revolving shaft
Implementation Method 4
a tidal current turbine, a coupling, a revolving shaft, a booster pump
Implementation Method 5
The high pressure seawater is desalinated by an unsteady reverse osmosis membrane
Implementation Method 6
The high pressure seawater is desalinated by an unsteady reverse osmosis membrane
Implementation Method 7
a flow battery, and a controller. The booster pump is connected to the seawater pretreatment device via an inlet tube
Data Source
AI summary
A device for sea water desalination and power generation, including: a tidal current turbine, a coupling, a revolving shaft, a booster pump, and a body. The body includes a chamber, a divider, and an end cover. The divider and the end cover are in fixed connection to the body, and the divider divides the chamber into a closed pumping chamber and a closed desalination and power generation chamber. The booster pump is disposed in the pumping chamber and is driven by the revolving shaft. The tidal current turbine is connected to the revolving shaft via the coupling. The desalination and power generation chamber includes a seawater pretreatment device, a seawater desalinating unit including an unsteady reverse osmosis membrane, a flow battery, and a controller. The booster pump is connected to the seawater pretreatment device via an inlet tube, and is connected to the seawater desalinating unit via an outlet tube.