Wave-Powered Desalinator System for Low-Energy Seawater Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional land-based reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants require high energy consumption for pumping seawater, complex and costly pressure intensifiers, and extensive pre-treatment processes, which increase operational costs and maintenance complexity.
Innovation Solution
A wave-powered desalinator system that utilizes wave energy to power a pump, which feeds seawater into a pressure intensifier unit and then to a reverse osmosis membrane unit, reducing the need for electrical energy and simplifying the system's construction and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional land-based RO desalination plants are used, then desalination can be achieved, but high electrical energy consumption is required for pumping seawater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional electrical pump system with a wave-powered pump that utilizes mechanical energy from ocean waves to drive the desalination process. The wave-powered pump converts wave motion directly into pumping action, eliminating the need for electrical energy consumption in seawater intake and initial pressurization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy source parameter from electrical to mechanical wave energy. By utilizing the natural kinetic and potential energy of ocean waves, the system transforms the input energy parameter, thereby reducing electrical energy consumption while maintaining adequate pumping power for the RO process.
2Stress or pressure
If conventional pressure intensifiers are used in RO plants, then pressure increase is achieved, but complex construction and high maintenance requirements result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the wave-powered pump and pressure intensifier functions into a single integrated device. The wave-powered pump not only pumps seawater but also provides pressure intensification, eliminating the need for separate complex pressure intensifier equipment and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining required pressure levels for RO operation.
3Reliability
If extensive pre-treatment is applied to seawater, then RO membrane protection is improved, but operational costs and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex pre-treatment process from the overall desalination system. By using wave-powered pumping with controlled flow characteristics and natural wave filtration, the system achieves sufficient membrane protection without requiring extensive chemical pre-treatment, thereby reducing operational costs and process complexity while maintaining RO membrane reliability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If land-based RO plants are located far from seashore, then operational stability is improved, but pumping costs and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wave energy as an intermediary power source between the ocean and the RO system. By deploying the wave-powered pump at the coastline or offshore, the system captures wave energy directly at the source, eliminating the need for long-distance seawater pumping through pipes and reducing energy consumption while maintaining operational stability through the natural consistency of wave patterns.
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 wave-powered desalinator system significantly reduces energy consumption, decreases maintenance requirements, and allows for efficient operation under variable flow conditions, while also minimizing pre-treatment efforts and providing better control over fresh water recovery rates.
Implementation Method 1
The wave-powered pump is configured to at least partially float on seawater and pump the seawater from pump inlet to pump outlet using the energy of waves of the seawater
Implementation Method 2
The pressure intensifier unit is configured to increase the pressure of the water received from the wave powered pump/s
Implementation Method 3
The reverse osmosis (RO) membrane unit is configured to convert incoming high-pressure seawater into a desalinated water stream and high-pressure brine
Implementation Method 4
Reverse osmosis is the process in which a feed water like saline seawater is pressurised through the semi-permeable membrane
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a wave-powered desalinator system (100) for desalinating seawater. The desalinator system (100) comprises, at least a wave-powered pump (102), a pressure intensifier unit (106) connected downstream of the wave-powered pump (102), and a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane unit (108) connected downstream of an outlet (110) of the pressure intensifier unit (106). The RO membrane unit (108) is configured to convert incoming high-pressure seawater into a desalinated water stream (DW) and high-pressure brine. The pressure intensifier unit (106) is configured to utilize the high-pressure brine supplied by RO membrane unit (108) to increase the pressure of seawater in the pressure intensifier unit (106) and discharge a low-pressure brine. The wave-powered pump (102) comprises a pump plunger (118), a pump barrel (120) and a float (122).