GB2256377A - Desalination plant - Google Patents
Desalination plant Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2256377A GB2256377A GB9209459A GB9209459A GB2256377A GB 2256377 A GB2256377 A GB 2256377A GB 9209459 A GB9209459 A GB 9209459A GB 9209459 A GB9209459 A GB 9209459A GB 2256377 A GB2256377 A GB 2256377A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- desalination
- seawater
- mobile
- plant according
- desalination plant
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000010612 desalination reaction Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 58
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 239000013505 freshwater Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000001223 reverse osmosis Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004821 distillation Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000003651 drinking water Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000020188 drinking water Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003204 osmotic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000012266 salt solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012153 distilled water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008520 organization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009466 transformation Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/44—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
- C02F1/441—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis by reverse osmosis
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D61/00—Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
- B01D61/02—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
- B01D61/10—Accessories; Auxiliary operations
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63J—AUXILIARIES ON VESSELS
- B63J1/00—Arrangements of installations for producing fresh water, e.g. by evaporation and condensation of sea water
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/02—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating
- C02F1/04—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/30—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation
- C02F1/32—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation with ultraviolet light
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
- C02F2103/08—Seawater, e.g. for desalination
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
- C02F2201/001—Build in apparatus for autonomous on board water supply and wastewater treatment (e.g. for aircrafts, cruiseships, oil drilling platforms, railway trains, space stations)
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
- Y02A20/124—Water desalination
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
- Y02A20/124—Water desalination
- Y02A20/131—Reverse-osmosis
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Nanotechnology (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
Abstract
A mobile desalination plant comprises desalination apparatus (4) on board a ship (1). The ship has an upperhold (2) for the desalination apparatus (4) and a lowerhold (3) for freshwater. Seawater to be processed is taken up and pumped to the desalination apparatus (4) from a seawater compartment in the underside of the ship, the level of which varies according to the draught of the ship (1) <IMAGE>
Description
DESALINATION PLANT
The present invention relates to a desalination plant and particularly to a floating desalination plant.
Fresh drinking water can be made from a salt solution such as seawater by any of the following desalination methods:
(a) EVAPORATION DISTILLATION. This method achieves desalination by boiling freshwater, collecting the resulting water vapour and then cooling the vapour until it condenses. The condensed water is vi < (ually free of contaminants and is known as distilled water, distillate or condensate.
The main disadvantage with the above phase transformation process (ie. liquid to vapour to liquid) is its high energy consumption.
(b) REVERSE OSMOSIS. When a selective or semipermeable membrane is placed between a solution (eg. seawater) and a pure solvent (eg.
water) the solvent will pass through the membrane to dilute the concentrated solution. Osmotic pressure is the pressure required in order to stop this natural flow driven by the different solute concentration on each side of the membrane. The above process is reversible and a pure solvent (freshwater) can be separated from a salt solution (seawater) by applying a pressure on the concentrated solution side that exceeds the osmotic pressure. This process is known as 'reverse osmosis' and offers an economical alternative to evaporation distillation in areas where there is no cheap source of energy, since the only energy required is that needed to drive a pump.
Conventional desalination plants are located onshore and suffer from a number of problems.
Channels need to be dredged from the shoreline to the plants. These are typically between 500 and 2000 metres long and their formation adds considerably to the overall construction costs of the onshore plant.
As the sources of saltwater for the onshore plant are limited to those in the immediate vicinity, the continued operation of the plant is under constant threat from pollution of its water source by oil spillages, etc., as was dramatically demonstrated during the recent Gulf War.
Another problem is that of pollution of the surrounding environment by discharge from the onshore plant of the high salt concentration solution which is produced as a by-product of the desalination process.
A further problem is that during periods of rainfall local demand for freshwater is reduced as rainwater can be collected and therefore an onshore plant cannot be operated at its maximum output throughout the year making the production of freshwater less cost effective. In regions where periods of rainfall are quite frequent this may mean that, although there is a high demand for freshwater at certain times of the year, the construction and operation of a desalination plant would not be a viable economic proposition.
The present inventors have recognized that the above problems can be overcome by constructing a mobile desalination plant.
According to the invention there is provided a mobile desalination plant for producing commercial quantities of freshwater comprising a floatable support and desalination apparatus.
The floatable support may comprise a barge or floatable dock or preferably a ship. A ship is preferred because it is more manoeuvrable, especially in bad weather conditions.
Preferably the ship includes connection means for connection with floating or sea-bottom pipes to allow the freshwater produced to be piped onshore.
Advantageously the ship includes means to facilitate the efficient uptake of seawater.
Preferably, said means comprises a 'moonpole', that is, a tank having a sealable aperture which is situated below the water line. The aperture can be opened and sealed to control the speed of seawater uptake into the moonpole and its subsequent uptake by the desalination apparatus via an inlet system which is connected to the moonpole. Preferably, the desalination apparatus is suitable for carrying out desalination via reverse osmosis. Alternatively, desalination apparatus for carrying out the evaporation distillation method or both desalination methods can be used
The floatable desalination plant of the present invention has a number of advantages over conventional onshore plants. It can be moved from place to place in response to the demand for freshwater.Hence it can be used to satisfy the demand for freshwater in areas where, although there may be a large demand for freshwater at certain times of the year, the frequency of periods of rainfall makes the construction and operation of an onshore plant uneconomical. Since the floatable plant can be run at its maximum output all year round its operation is extremely cost effective. In addition, as the plant is actually floating on its seawater source, the cost of effecting seawater intake are considerably reduced.
Another advantage of the floatable desalination plant is that it can be moved away from areas in which the seawater has been polluted.
Further, the high salt concentration of the solution which is produced and discharged as a byproduct of the desalination process poses no ecological threat to the local environment since it is rapidly diluted by the surrounding seawater.
Thus, it is clear that the floatable desalination plant of the present invention overcomes the problems associated with conventional onshore desalination plants.
The invention also includes a method of desalinating water comprising providing a floatable support, providing desalination means on said floatable support, floating said support in seawater, drawing seawater into said desalination means to effect desalination, and discharging byproducts of desalination into the seawater in which the support floats.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an elevation of a desalination plant of the invention on board a ship with a cut away position showing the internal arrangement of desalination apparatus;
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the desalination apparatus;
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the hull of a ship illustrating the seawater intake.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a floatable desalination plant of the invention comprises a ship (1) divided into upperhold (2) and lowerhold (3).
The lowerhold (2) is a stock tank for freshwater which is produced by desalination apparatus (4) in the upperhold (3).
As shown in Figure 3, the ship (1) also includes a sealed compartment (5) open to the sea at the bottom (6) and the top (7) of which is above the waterline (8). Leading from the compartment (5) at a position below the waterline is a sealable inlet (9) leading to the desalination plant (4) which ensures efficient and controlled uptake of seawater. The ship also includes flexible connection pipes (not shown).
In use, the flexible connection pipes are connected to floating or sea bottom pipes leading onshore. The seawater to be processed is taken up in the compartment (5) and pumped to the desalination apparatus (4) in the upperhold (2) via the inlet (9). As the inlet (9) is within the body of the ship, cleaning of the inlet is facilitated.
The desalination apparatus is preferably known per se, such as the apparatus manufactured by Promac B.V. NL., which achieves desalination via the reverse osmosis method and is capable of processing approximately 28,000 tons of seawater per day to produce 7,000 tons of fresh drinking water compatible with the World Health
Organization quality requirements. The energy requirements for operating this apparatus are approximately 5Kwh per hour. As the apparatus is known, specific details thereof are not disclosed herein.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention constitutes a significant improvement over the limitations of conventional onshore desalination plants.
Claims (10)
1. A mobile desalination plant for producing commercial quantities of freshwater comprising a floatable support and desalination apparatus.
2. A mobile desalination plant according to claim 1, wherein the floatable support comprises a barge, floatable dock or a ship.
3. A mobile desalination plant according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the floatable support includes connection means for connection with floating or sea-bottom pipes to allow the freshwater produced to be piped onshore.
4. A mobile desalination plant according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the floatable support includes means to facilitate the efficient uptake of seawater.
5. A mobile desalination plant according to claim 4, wherein said uptake means comprises a tank having a sealable aperture which is situated below the water line.
6. A mobile desalination plant according to claim 5, wherein the aperture can be selectively opened or sealed to control the speed of seawater uptake into the desalination apparatus.
7. A mobile desalination plant according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the desalination apparatus is suitable for carrying out desalination by means of at least one of reverse osmosis, or evaporation distillation.
8. A mobile desalination plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the floatable support comprises a ship divided into an upperhold for the desalination apparatus and a lowerhold forming a stock tank for freshwater.
9. A mobile desalination plant according to claim 8, further including, a further compartment open to the sea which receives seawater to a level corresponding to the draught of the ship, and inlet means whereby seawater is extracted from said further compartment to ensure efficient and controlled uptake of seawater.
10. A method of desalinating water comprising providing a floatable support, providing desalination means on said floatable support, floating said support in seawater, drawing seawater into said desalination means to effect desalination, and discharging by-products of desalination into the seawater in which the support floats.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB919109579A GB9109579D0 (en) | 1991-05-02 | 1991-05-02 | Desalination plant |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9209459D0 GB9209459D0 (en) | 1992-06-17 |
GB2256377A true GB2256377A (en) | 1992-12-09 |
Family
ID=10694386
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB919109579A Pending GB9109579D0 (en) | 1991-05-02 | 1991-05-02 | Desalination plant |
GB9209459A Withdrawn GB2256377A (en) | 1991-05-02 | 1992-05-01 | Desalination plant |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB919109579A Pending GB9109579D0 (en) | 1991-05-02 | 1991-05-02 | Desalination plant |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (2) | GB9109579D0 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2165824A1 (en) * | 2000-09-27 | 2002-03-16 | Dyta En Y Medio Ambiente S A L | Autonomous self-propelled desalination plant assisted by renewable energy |
WO2005012180A2 (en) * | 2003-08-02 | 2005-02-10 | How Kiap Gueh | Method and apparatus for hull integrated seawater reverse osmosis system |
EP1551769A2 (en) | 2002-10-08 | 2005-07-13 | Water Standard Company, Llc | Mobile desalination plants and methods for producing desalinated water |
DE102005025428A1 (en) * | 2005-06-02 | 2006-12-07 | Siemens Ag | Drinking water production and supply ship |
DE102005040855A1 (en) * | 2005-08-29 | 2007-03-01 | Siemens Ag | Sea vehicle e.g. ship, has drinking water production system with drinking water purification device, and produced drinking water filling device for filling water in commercial beverage packing and storage space for fulls or empties |
DE102005052977A1 (en) * | 2005-11-07 | 2007-05-16 | Siemens Ag | Ship for obtaining drinking water, has trunk shaped device for reception of sea water and device for generating drinking water from sea water according to principle of reverse osmosis |
ES2301328A1 (en) * | 2006-01-13 | 2008-06-16 | Manuel Torres Martinez | Seawater desalination plant comprises structural assembly comprising upper platform, which provides desalination medium and lower structure in form of radial arm |
EP2436652A4 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2017-04-19 | Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd | Seawater desalination plant to be installed on a barge, and method for installing same |
US10513446B2 (en) | 2014-10-10 | 2019-12-24 | EcoDesal, LLC | Depth exposed membrane for water extraction |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3440146A (en) * | 1966-05-02 | 1969-04-22 | Johan A Louw | Desalination method and apparatus with plural vaporization chambers containing shallow layers of liquid |
EP0062944A1 (en) * | 1981-04-06 | 1982-10-20 | Fernand Lopez | Apparatsu for producing fresh water from sea water by means of reverse osmosis |
US4356785A (en) * | 1978-12-12 | 1982-11-02 | Bailie Robert E | Transportable process modules |
-
1991
- 1991-05-02 GB GB919109579A patent/GB9109579D0/en active Pending
-
1992
- 1992-05-01 GB GB9209459A patent/GB2256377A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3440146A (en) * | 1966-05-02 | 1969-04-22 | Johan A Louw | Desalination method and apparatus with plural vaporization chambers containing shallow layers of liquid |
US4356785A (en) * | 1978-12-12 | 1982-11-02 | Bailie Robert E | Transportable process modules |
EP0062944A1 (en) * | 1981-04-06 | 1982-10-20 | Fernand Lopez | Apparatsu for producing fresh water from sea water by means of reverse osmosis |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2165824A1 (en) * | 2000-09-27 | 2002-03-16 | Dyta En Y Medio Ambiente S A L | Autonomous self-propelled desalination plant assisted by renewable energy |
EP1551769A2 (en) | 2002-10-08 | 2005-07-13 | Water Standard Company, Llc | Mobile desalination plants and methods for producing desalinated water |
EP2208709A3 (en) * | 2002-10-08 | 2011-03-09 | Water Standard (CI), LP | Mobile desalination plants and methods for producing desalinated water |
WO2005012180A2 (en) * | 2003-08-02 | 2005-02-10 | How Kiap Gueh | Method and apparatus for hull integrated seawater reverse osmosis system |
WO2005012180A3 (en) * | 2003-08-02 | 2006-07-20 | How Kiap Gueh | Method and apparatus for hull integrated seawater reverse osmosis system |
DE102005025428A1 (en) * | 2005-06-02 | 2006-12-07 | Siemens Ag | Drinking water production and supply ship |
DE102005025428B4 (en) * | 2005-06-02 | 2007-08-09 | Siemens Ag | Drinking water production and supply ship |
DE102005040855A1 (en) * | 2005-08-29 | 2007-03-01 | Siemens Ag | Sea vehicle e.g. ship, has drinking water production system with drinking water purification device, and produced drinking water filling device for filling water in commercial beverage packing and storage space for fulls or empties |
DE102005052977A1 (en) * | 2005-11-07 | 2007-05-16 | Siemens Ag | Ship for obtaining drinking water, has trunk shaped device for reception of sea water and device for generating drinking water from sea water according to principle of reverse osmosis |
ES2301328A1 (en) * | 2006-01-13 | 2008-06-16 | Manuel Torres Martinez | Seawater desalination plant comprises structural assembly comprising upper platform, which provides desalination medium and lower structure in form of radial arm |
EP2436652A4 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2017-04-19 | Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd | Seawater desalination plant to be installed on a barge, and method for installing same |
US10513446B2 (en) | 2014-10-10 | 2019-12-24 | EcoDesal, LLC | Depth exposed membrane for water extraction |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB9109579D0 (en) | 1991-06-26 |
GB9209459D0 (en) | 1992-06-17 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CN1890184B (en) | Mobile desalination plants and systems, and methods for producing desalinated water | |
Morillo et al. | Comparative study of brine management technologies for desalination plants | |
KR101143052B1 (en) | Wastewater treatment ship | |
Curcio et al. | Membrane technologies for seawater desalination and brackish water treatment | |
US6656326B2 (en) | Apparatus and method for water purification using solar energy | |
KR20070009715A (en) | Wastewater treatment | |
NO318111B1 (en) | Reverse osmosis desalination plant and water desalination process | |
WO2013016440A1 (en) | Method and system for conveying water on oil tanker ships to deliver drinkable water to destinations | |
GB2256377A (en) | Desalination plant | |
US20140263005A1 (en) | Deep ocean desalination system and methods of using same to produce potable water | |
US20180297866A1 (en) | Water treatment system and water treatment method | |
M’nif et al. | Coupling of membrane processes for brackish water desalination | |
WO2005049169A1 (en) | Apparatus and method for water purification using solar energy | |
CN104176847A (en) | Seawater desalination technology | |
EP1894612B1 (en) | Method for purifying water by means of a membrane filtration unit | |
AU2020273466A1 (en) | Temperature swing solvent extraction for descaling of feedstreams | |
KR102116458B1 (en) | Mobile Seawater Desalination Apparatus With Solar Panel and desalination method using the same | |
US20080029456A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for removing minerals from a water source | |
US4614582A (en) | Automatic and autonomous floating purifier with rotary belt separation and external radial circulation | |
WO1999006323A1 (en) | Method and plant for desalting seawater exploiting hydrostatic pressure | |
WO2005012180A2 (en) | Method and apparatus for hull integrated seawater reverse osmosis system | |
Hart et al. | The role of membrane technology in industrial water and wastewater management | |
JP2002166263A (en) | Water recovery utilization system | |
WO2021245437A1 (en) | Desalination arrangement | |
Channabasappa | Membrane technology for water reuse application |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |