Mobile desalination plants and systems, and methods for producing desalinated water

• US 20060273009A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Standard Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Water Standard Company LLC
• Inventors: Gordon, Andrew W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,510,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/652
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/025 Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/10 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/12 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/421 by moving the components in a convoluted or labyrinthine path B01F25/433 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4231 using baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/45 Mixers in which the materials to be mixed are pressed together through orifices or interstitial spaces, e.g. between beads B01F25/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4521 the components being pressed through orifices in elements, e.g. flat plates or cylinders, which obstruct the whole diameter of the tube
• 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 1/44 by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/08 Seawater, e.g. for desalination
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/185 The treatment agent being halogen or a halogenated compound
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/131 Reverse-osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/141 : Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 : Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for desalinating water are provided. A vessel includes a water intake system, a reverse osmosis system, a concentrate discharge system, a permeate transfer system, a power source, and a control system. The concentrate discharge system includes a plurality of concentrate discharge ports.

Claims

1. A method of desalinating seawater on an apparatus positioned at a location on the surface of a body of seawater, the method comprising the steps of:

intaking seawater from the body of seawater into the apparatus;

removing salt from the seawater taken into the apparatus to yield desalinated water and a concentrate;

diluting the concentrate with seawater to yield a diluted concentrate; and

discharging the diluted concentrate into the body of seawater.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of diluting the concentrate with seawater occurs on the apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the diluted concentrate has a salinity level substantially equal to the salinity level of the seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the diluted concentrate has a temperature substantially equal to the temperature of the seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the diluted concentrate has a salinity level substantially equal to the salinity level of the body of seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged and the diluted concentrate has a temperature substantially equal to the temperature of the seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of diluting the concentrate with seawater is performed in a mixing tank comprising a space in which concentrate can be mixed with seawater to form the diluted concentrate, an inlet for introducing concentrate into the space, an inlet for introducing seawater into the space, and an outlet for discharging the diluted concentrate from the space, the outlet being in fluid communication with a concentrate discharge port.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of diluting the concentrate is performed using a mixer to mix the concentrate with seawater in the space.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method produces between 5,000 and 450,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of removing salt from the seawater comprises subjecting the seawater taken into the apparatus to reverse osmosis.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of removing salt from the seawater comprises subjecting the seawater taken into the apparatus to distillation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transporting the desalinated water to a land-based facility.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of placing the desalinated water into packages on the apparatus and transporting the packages of desalinated water to a land-based facility.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the pH of the desalinated water.

14. A system for desalinating seawater to yield desalinated water and a concentrate, the system comprising:

an apparatus being positioned at a location on the surface of a body of seawater;

a water desalination system installed on the apparatus, the desalination system capable of removing salt from seawater;

a water intake system installed on the apparatus and comprising a device for taking up seawater from the body of seawater;

a mixing system for mixing the concentrate with seawater to yield a diluted concentrate, the mixing system being installed on the apparatus in communication with the water desalination system and comprising a space in which concentrate can be mixed with seawater to form the diluted concentrate, an inlet for introducing concentrate into the space, an inlet for introducing seawater into the space, and an outlet for discharging the diluted concentrate from the space; and

a concentrate discharge system for discharging the diluted concentrate from the apparatus, the concentrate discharge system being installed on the apparatus and comprising at least one discharge port.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the water desalination system is capable of producing between 5,000 and 450,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a land-based desalinated water distribution facility in fluid communication with the apparatus.

17. An apparatus positioned on the surface of a body of seawater, the apparatus comprising:

a means for removing salt from seawater to yield desalinated water and a concentrate;

a means for discharging the concentrate into the body of seawater; and

a means for mitigating the impact of the discharged concentrate on the marine life in the area of the concentrate discharge, the means for mitigating the impact of the discharged concentrate comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a means for regulating the salinity level of the concentrate to a level substantially equal to the salinity level of the seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged and (ii) a means for regulating the temperature of the concentrate substantially equal to the temperature of the seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for mitigating the impact of the discharged concentrate comprises the means for regulating the salinity level of the concentrate to a level substantially equal to the salinity level of the seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for mitigating the impact of the discharged concentrate comprises the means for regulating the temperature of the concentrate substantially equal to the temperature of the seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for mitigating the impact of the discharged concentrate comprises both (i) the means for regulating the salinity level of the concentrate to a level substantially equal to the salinity level of the seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged and (ii) the means for regulating the temperature of the concentrate substantially equal to the temperature of the seawater at the area where the concentrate is discharged.