Deep sea water harvesting method, apparatus, and product

• US 20070039860A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DSH International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DSH International, Inc.
• Inventors: Oney, Stephen, Krock, Hans
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/170.10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/025 Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/08 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/66 by neutralisation; pH adjustment for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/08 Seawater, e.g. for desalination
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/185 The treatment agent being halogen or a halogenated compound
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/131 Reverse-osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

Sea water is extracted from a depth in excess of 400 meters below the sea surface and desalinated to produce potable water. A system to extract, desalinate and store the desalinated sea water is mounted aboard a ship.

Claims

1. A composition of matter comprising desalinated sea water extracted from a depth in excess of 400 meters below the sea surface.

2. A method of providing potable water, comprising:

extracting sea water from a depth in excess of 400 meters below the sea surface; and

desalinating the extracted sea water.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein extracting the sea water comprises:

lowering a submersible pump to a depth in excess of 400 meters below the sea surface; and

using the submersed pump to pump sea water onto a ship.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein desalinating the extracted sea water comprises desalinating the extracted sea water aboard the ship.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of filtering the extracted sea water to remove impurities other than salt, disinfecting the extracted sea water, sterilizing the extracted sea water, clarifying the extracted sea water, adjusting the hardness of the extracted sea water, adjusting the pH of the extracted sea water, and removing free chlorine from the extracted sea water.

6. A system for providing potable water, comprising:

a ship;

a desalination plant mounted aboard the ship; and

a pump configured to pump sea water from a depth in excess of 400 meters below the sea surface for desalination in the desalination plant.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pump is a submersible pump configured to be lowered to a depth in excess of 400 meters below the sea surface to pump the sea water onto the ship for desalination in the desalination plant.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the desalination plant is further configured to perform one or more selected from the group consisting of filtering the extracted sea water to remove impurities other than salt, disinfecting the extracted sea water, sterilizing the extracted sea water, clarifying the extracted sea water, adjusting the hardness of the extracted sea water, adjusting the pH of the extracted sea water, and removing free chlorine from the extracted sea water.