Wave-Powered Desalination With Self-Cleaning RO Membranes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional desalination plants require significant electricity to pressurize seawater for reverse osmosis, and existing wave energy conversion systems are not optimized for efficient potable water production while minimizing environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
An articulated barge wave energy conversion system (AWECS) with a modular sand filtration-anchor system that harnesses wave energy to power reverse osmosis desalination, using self-cleaning reverse osmosis membranes and sand filtration to produce potable water, with features like bi-directional pumps and filter-anchors designed for efficient seawater intake and filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional desalination plants use electricity to pressurize seawater for reverse osmosis, then potable water can be produced, but significant electricity consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical pressurization system with a mechanical wave-energy-driven pump system. The articulated barge system converts wave motion into mechanical energy through hydraulic pumps, eliminating the need for electricity while maintaining reliable potable water production through reverse osmosis
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the periodic motion of waves (phase transition from kinetic to potential energy) to drive the hydraulic pumps. The wave motion creates alternating pressure differentials that propel water through the filtration and reverse osmosis system without requiring external electrical energy
2Use of energy by moving object
If wave energy conversion systems are designed for potable water production, then renewable energy utilization increases, but environmental impact may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water processing into distinct functional zones: a filtration zone with sand filters that physically separates contaminants, and a reverse osmosis zone that produces potable water. This segmentation allows the system to handle different water qualities appropriately, reducing environmental impact while maintaining efficient wave energy utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated barge system is designed to be self-regulating through its passive wave-energy conversion mechanism. The system automatically adjusts to varying sea conditions without requiring external control, and the sand filtration system self-cleans through wave action, minimizing environmental interference while maintaining consistent potable water production
3Manufacturing precision
If sand filtration is used for seawater intake, then filtration efficiency improves, but fish larva and macro/micro vertebrae may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different filtration characteristics to different zones: coarse sand filtration for general contaminant removal in the intake zone, and finer reverse osmosis membrane filtration for potable water production. This local differentiation maintains filtration efficiency while allowing selective passage of marine organisms through 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 system effectively generates potable water from seawater using wave energy, with self-cleaning membranes and efficient filtration, producing an average of 100,000 gallons per day, while minimizing environmental impact and being transportable and adaptable to varying sea conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The desalination system includes a reverse osmosis membrane, which is arranged to be self-cleaning by the action of the waves on the barge system
Implementation Method 2
The at least one filter-anchor is arranged for placement on the floor of the body of salt water and comprises a filter housing and a filter. The filter is adapted to filter the salt water to produce filtered salt water
Implementation Method 3
The articulated barge system is arranged for converting energy of the waves into energy to pump the filtered salt water to the desalination system
Data Source
AI summary
A potable water producing system for disposition at a body of salt water and a method of producing potable water is provided. The system includes a wave energy conversion system (AWECS) and a portable filtration-anchor system. The AWECS is in the form of a floating articulated barge housing a desalination system including a reverse osmosis membrane. The filtration-anchor system is submerged in the body of salt water and includes a sand filter to filter the adjacent salt water and to provide the filtered salt water to the desalination system on the articulated barge. The action of the waves on the articulated barge provides energy to pump the filtered salt water from the sand filter to the reverse osmosis member to produce potable water. Moreover, the action of the waves on the articulated barge effects the shaking of the reverse osmosis filter, thereby rendering it self-cleaning.