METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DESALINATION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of purifying water comprising:
- providing a feed water comprising greater than about 1,000 ppm total dissolved solids to a nanofiltration device to produce a first filtrate reduced in total dissolved solids; and
feeding the first filtrate to an electrodeionization device to produce a second filtrate comprising less than about 1,000 ppm total dissolved solids and a boron content of less than about 0.5 ppm.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for purifying water are provided. A feed water such as seawater can be fed to a filter such as a microporous or nanofiltration membrane to produce a permeate that can, in turn, be fed to an electrodeionization system to produce fresh water.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of purifying water comprising:
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providing a feed water comprising greater than about 1,000 ppm total dissolved solids to a nanofiltration device to produce a first filtrate reduced in total dissolved solids; and feeding the first filtrate to an electrodeionization device to produce a second filtrate comprising less than about 1,000 ppm total dissolved solids and a boron content of less than about 0.5 ppm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7)
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5. (canceled)
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8. An apparatus for desalinating seawater comprising:
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a nanofiltration device; and an electrochemical device in fluid communication with the nanofiltration device, the electrochemical device having dilution cells with a thickness of less than about 10 mm. - View Dependent Claims (9, 23)
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10. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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12. A method of treating seawater to reduce total dissolved solids comprising:
treating the seawater in a water treatment apparatus while applying energy in an amount less than about 7 kwh/kgal of filtrate to the apparatus to produce a filtrate comprising less than about 1,000 ppm total dissolved solids. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of treating seawater comprising:
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reducing a concentration of one or more non-monovalent species from the seawater in a first stage comprising at least one of a nanofiltration device and ultrafiltration device; and reducing a concentration of one or more monovalent species from the seawater in a second stage to produce water having a TDS of less than about 1,000 ppm, wherein the first and second stages are operated at a net energy consumption rate of less than about 7 kwh/kgal of product water. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of treating water having dissolved species therein comprising:
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reducing a concentration of monovalent dissolved species from the water to produce a byproduct and a first partially treated water stream; reducing a concentration of divalent dissolved species from the first partially treated water stream to produce a second partially treated water stream; and reducing a concentration of dissolved species from the second partially treated water stream to less than about 1,000 ppm in an electrodeionization device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification