Method and System for Operating a High Receovery Separation Process

• US 20200131056A1
• Filed: 05/14/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluid Equipment Development Company, LLC (Vector Technologies, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Fluid Equipment Development Company, LLC (Vector Technologies, LLC)
• Inventors: OKLEJAS, JR., Eli
• Granted Patent: US 10,703,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/14 Pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/16 Flow or flux control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/083 Bypass routes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/18 Specific valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/243 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/246 Energy recovery means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/60 Specific sensors or sensor arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/70 Control means using a programmable logic controller [PLC] or a computer
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2317/022 Reject series
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2317/04 Elements in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2317/06 Use of membrane modules of the same kind
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/025 Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/026 comprising multiple reverse osmosis steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/06 Energy recovery
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/08 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/10 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/12 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/08 Seawater, e.g. for desalination
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/005 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 : Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/08 : Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/10 : Energy recovery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/131 : Reverse-osmosis

Abstract

A reverse osmosis system and method includes a pump pressurizing a feed stream, a first and second membrane array that generates permeate and brine streams. A first energy recovery device uses first energy from the second brine stream to pressurize the first brine stream. A first and second auxiliary and bypass valves are associated with the first and second energy recovery device. A second energy recovery device uses second energy from the second brine stream to increase a second pressure of the feed stream. A first flowmeter generates a first flow signal for the first permeate stream. A second flowmeter generates a second flow signal for of the second permeate stream. A third flowmeter generates a third flow signal for the second brine stream. A motor drives the first energy recovery device. A controller controls the in response to the flow signals.

Claims

1. A turbocharger comprising:

a turbocharger housing;

a first bypass passage disposed within the housing;

a first bypass valve disposed within the housing controlling flow through the first bypass passage;

a first main nozzle disposed within the housing communicating a first part of a first portion of a fluid stream to a first volute; and

a first auxiliary nozzle comprising a first auxiliary valve selectively communicating a second part of the first portion of the stream to the first volute.

2. The turbocharger as recited in claim 1 further comprising a motor coupled to the turbocharger, said motor operable to use energy from a power supply to drive the turbocharger.

3. The turbocharger as recited in claim 2 wherein said motor is operable to use second energy from the fluid stream to provide power to the power supply.

4. The turbocharger as recited in claim 1 further comprising first valve stem forming both the first bypass valve and the first auxiliary valve.

5. The turbocharger as recited in claim 4 wherein the first valve stem comprises a first port coupled therethrough so that when the auxiliary nozzle is partially opened, a portion of bypass fluid bypasses the volute through the port.

6. The turbocharger as recited in claim 5 wherein the first port comprises a plurality of ports disposed in parallel, said plurality of ports sequentially opening as the first valve stem moves to open the auxiliary nozzle.

7. The turbocharger as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first valve stem selectively closing the first auxiliary nozzle and a second valve stem selectively closing the first bypass passage.

8. The turbocharger as recited in claim 7 wherein said first valve stem and said second valve stem are independently controllable using the controller.

9. The turbocharger as recited in claim 7 wherein said first valve stem and said second valve stem are perpendicularly disposed.

10. A reverse osmosis system comprising:

a first membrane array configured to receive a feed stream and to generate a first permeate stream and a first brine stream from the feed stream;

a second membrane array configured to receive the first brine stream and to generate a second permeate stream and a second brine stream from the first brine stream;

the turbocharger as recited in claim 1;

a first flowmeter generating a first flow signal corresponding to a first flow of the first permeate stream;

a second flowmeter generating a second flow signal corresponding to a second flow of the second permeate stream;

a third flowmeter generating a third flow signal corresponding to a third flow of the second brine stream; and

a controller in communication with a first flowmeter, and a third flowmeter, said controller controlling the first auxiliary valve, the first bypass valve, in response to the first flow signal, the second flow signal and the third flow signal.

11. A method for operating a reverse osmosis system, the method comprising:

directing a feed stream to a first membrane array to separate the feed stream into a first permeate stream and a first brine stream;

directing the first brine stream to a second membrane array to separate the first brine stream into a second permeate stream and a second brine stream;

determining a first flow signal corresponding to a first flow in the first permeate stream;

determining a second flow signal corresponding to a second flow in the second permeate stream;

determining a third flow signal corresponding to a third flow in the second brine stream;

determining a first auxiliary nozzle valve setting and a first bypass valve setting in response to the first flow signal and the third flow signal;

determining a second auxiliary nozzle valve setting and a second bypass valve setting in response to the second flow signal and the third flow signal; and

controlling a torque output of a motor-generator coupled to a first hydraulic pressure booster to adjust an amount by which a first hydraulic booster increases a pressure of at least one of the feed stream and the first brine stream in response to the first flow signal.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising independently controlling a first auxiliary nozzle and a first nozzle valve within a controller.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising simultaneously controlling a first auxiliary nozzle and a first nozzle valve with a controller.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of determining the second auxiliary nozzle valve setting and a second bypass setting comprises iteratively determining the second auxiliary valve setting and the second bypass valve setting.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein when the first flow signal is above a first threshold reducing boost of the first hydraulic pressure booster by closing a first auxiliary nozzle valve and opening a first bypass valve.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein when the first flow signal is below a second threshold increasing boost of the first hydraulic pressure booster by opening the first auxiliary nozzle valve and opening the first bypass valve.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein when the third flow signal is above a third threshold, increasing brine flow restriction by closing the first auxiliary nozzle valve and closing the first bypass valve.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein when the third flow signal is below a fourth threshold, reducing brine flow restriction opening the first auxiliary valve and opening the first bypass valve.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein when the second flow signal is above a fifth threshold, reducing pressure boost of a second hydraulic turbocharger by closing a second auxiliary nozzle and opening a second bypass valve.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein when the second flow signal is below a sixth threshold, increasing boost of the second hydraulic turbocharger by opening the second auxiliary valve and closing the second bypass valve.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein when the third flow signal is above a seventh threshold, increasing brine flow restriction by closing the second auxiliary valve and closing the second bypass valve.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein when the third flow signal is below an eighth threshold, reducing brine flow restriction by opening the second auxiliary valve and opening the second bypass valve.