Patent · US Active

Membrane based desalination apparatus with osmotic energy recovery and membrane based desalination method with osmotic energy recovery

US9428406B2 · kind B2 · utility

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Key dates

Filing dateNov 26, 2013
Grant dateAug 30, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 9, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02W10/30
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An energy efficient membrane based desalination process, which utilizes an osmotically driven energy recovery sub-process. Energy recovery sub-process involves the extraction of water from low salinity first aqueous solution by using a high salinity content, pressurized second aqueous solution to draw the water from first aqueous solution across a semi-permeable membrane. High salinity content, pressurized second solution can be used to generate osmotic pressure on the low salinity content first solution to drive water from first solution to the second solution with respect to chemical potential differences. The process also harvests the Gibbs free energy of mixing in terms of pressure conservation in the second solution, while the volume of second solution is increasing by the drawn water from the first solution.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.