WO2014100674A1 - Système de dessalement à houle intégré - Google Patents

Système de dessalement à houle intégré Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014100674A1
WO2014100674A1 PCT/US2013/077107 US2013077107W WO2014100674A1 WO 2014100674 A1 WO2014100674 A1 WO 2014100674A1 US 2013077107 W US2013077107 W US 2013077107W WO 2014100674 A1 WO2014100674 A1 WO 2014100674A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
flow
wave
power
energy
pressure
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PCT/US2013/077107
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English (en)
Inventor
Olivier CEBERIO
Pasquale REZZA, Jr.
Arthur R. Williams
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Resolute Marine Energy, Inc.
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Publication of WO2014100674A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014100674A1/fr

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/18—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
    • F03B13/1805—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is hinged to the rem
    • F03B13/181—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is hinged to the rem for limited rotation
    • F03B13/182—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is hinged to the rem for limited rotation with a to-and-fro movement
    • 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
    • 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
    • C02F2201/009—Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2220/00—Application
    • F05B2220/62—Application for 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
    • 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
    • Y02A20/138—Water desalination using renewable energy
    • Y02A20/144—Wave energy
    • 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
    • Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
    • Y02A20/208—Off-grid powered water treatment
    • Y02A20/212—Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
    • 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
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the capture and conversion of the energy carried by waves propagating at the surface of large bodies of water, and the use of this energy to desalinate sea water by reverse osmosis.
  • the wave energy is captured by a Wave-Energy Converter (WEC).
  • WEC Wave-Energy Converter
  • RO reverse-osmosis
  • the RO process divides the input seawater flow into two output flows, one of permeate (i.e., potable water) and one of brine (i.e., sea water of increased salinity) that is normally returned to the sea.
  • the pressure supplied by a pump in the desalination system must be sufficient (-800 psi) to overcome an osmotic pressure created by a salinity gradient across the RO membrane.
  • the flow along (as opposed to through) the membrane must be sufficient to remove particles blocking the membrane. Without a rapid flow along (i.e., tangential to) the membrane, the membrane quickly clogs. But, the magnitude of the flow required to prevent clogging is often comparable to, or greater than, the flow through the membrane.
  • the membrane may be a diagonal membrane.
  • a plurality of membranes may be utilized in a RO chamber.
  • Each RO chamber includes a membrane unit having an input for high pressure seawater and two outputs, one for fresh water (i.e., permeate) and one for high pressurized brine.
  • the membrane unit further includes a membrane.
  • the membrane is oriented diagonally, while in other embodiments, the membrane may be oriented horizontally or vertically.
  • the brine flow is usually greater than the permeate flow.
  • the brine flow may be twice that of the permeate flow, which is typical.
  • pressurized seawater flow that is then divided by the RO membrane into two flows: 1) low-pressure permeate (desalinated water) flow; and 2) high-pressure brine flow.
  • the low-pressure permeate flow and the high-pressure brine flow are output from locations disposed at opposing sides of the RO membrane.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the principle that conversion of fluid-motion power into other forms of power is reversible - in the absence of irreversible losses.
  • the power consumed by the reverse osmosis is the product of the pressure and the rate of desalinated flow.
  • the power actually consumed is, of course, greater due to inevitable inefficiencies. The required power is so great that it is the principal obstacle to the widespread exploitation of the technology.
  • the pump shown in Fig. 1 provides the required pressure. As indicated in Fig. 2, the pump consumes power.
  • the form of the power can be electrical, mechanical or fluid, for example.
  • the amount of power consumed in this way is proportional to the product of the pressure increase and the flow rate. Additionally, the quantity of power consumed is
  • Hydraulic motors such as turbines, act like pumps in reverse in that hydraulic motors lower the pressure of the flow and produce, rather than consume, power.
  • the power can be mechanical, fluid or electrical.
  • mechanical power produced in this way can be linear or rotational.
  • Fig. 2 shows energy-conservation relations describing this power conversion. While those for motors are similar to those shown for pumps, efficiency factors in a similar, but importantly different way. The conversion of power from one form to another is always less than perfectly efficient.
  • Desalination systems combine pumps and motors in a variety of ways. Each component device is imperfectly efficient. Reducing the number of such components is one of the important issues in this context.
  • brine power capture can be performed by a fluid motor, such as a turbine. Again, as shown in Fig. 3, the captured power can be used to contribute to the pressurization of the input seawater flow.
  • the second line of development is the exploitation of wave energy which is both abundant and accessible in coastal areas. The power available in ocean waves is symbiotic with the often especially great need for potable water in near-shore communities, including vacation resorts, but even with wave power the benefits of efficiency in both capital and operating costs are substantial. Wave energy may be used to drive a pump that pressurizes water introduced into the RO system for desalination.
  • FIG. 3 shows schematically the recovery process.
  • a motor in the brine flow captures the very substantial power carried by the brine flow, and uses this captured power to drive a pump that contributes to the pressurization of the sea water entering the RO chamber.
  • This pump is sometimes referred to as a booster pump, despite the fact that it usually adds more power to the seawater flow than the "primary" pump.
  • the motor that captures the power from the brine and the pump that is powered by such a motor may be integrated into one unit.
  • a unit integrating both the motor and the pump is often referred to as a "Clark pump” and is described by U.S. Pat. 5,628,198, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • the term “Clark pump” refers to the combination of a motor that captures power from the brine exiting an RO system with a pump that is driven by the motor.
  • a "Clark pump” device integrates the recovery motor-pump combination shown in Fig. 3 into a single device, as shown in Fig. 4. The consolidation of the motor and pump reduces both the manufacturing and deployment costs, and improves the efficiency of the recovery process.
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic drawing showing the elements of a reverse-osmosis desalination system 100 powered by wave energy.
  • the reverse-osmosis desalination system 100 includes a reverse-osmosis desalination device 101 that includes a chamber 114 which receives a pressurized water flow to be desalinated 102 which is divided by the reverse- osmosis device 101 into two flows, a desalinated water flow 103 and a brine flow 108 of increased salinity.
  • the system comprises two fluid flows, both of which enter the system from the ocean. One flow comprises the fluid to be desalinated (water flow 102).
  • the second flow 111 also enters the system from the ocean, is pressurized by the wave-energy-conversion (WEC) subsystem 109, which powers the primary pump 104 that pressurizes the water flow to be desalinated 102.
  • the WEC subsystem 109 is powered by ocean waves.
  • An example is a so-called surge-type wave-energy converter (WEC) , which could power the WEC subsystem 109, such as those described in more detail with respect to Figs. 12a and 12b.
  • One embodiment relates to a wave-powered desalination system including a wave- energy-converter subsystem, a pressurization subsystem, a reverse-osmosis chamber, an energy- recovery subsystem and passive conduits.
  • the wave-energy-converter subsystem convert powers carried by waves propagating on a body of water into mechanical power.
  • the pressurization subsystem pressurizes an input seawater flow in at most two steps by at most two pressurization stages.
  • the reverse-osmosis chamber includes a membrane having a plurality of passages disposed therein, receives the pressurized seawater, and divides the pressurized seawater into a permeate flow of purified water and a pressurized brine flow that carries away particles that did not pass through the membrane.
  • the energy-recovery subsystem captures power carried by the pressurized brine flow that exits the reverse-osmosis chamber and delivers the captured power to the pressurization subsystem.
  • the passive conduits carry the input seawater, the pressurized brine, and the purified water between the body of water and components of the wave-powered desalination system without changing a pressure, a
  • Another embodiment relates to a method for desalinating seawater with a wave-powered desalination system.
  • the method includes converting power carried by waves propagating on a body of water into mechanical power via a wave-energy-converter subsystem, pressurizing an input seawater flow in at most two steps by at most two pressurization stages, receiving the pressurized seawater and dividing the pressurized seawater, in a reverse-osmosis chamber including a membrane having a plurality of passages disposed therein, into a permeate flow of purified water and a pressurized brine flow that carries away particles that did not pass through the membrane, capturing power carried by the pressurized brine flow that exits the reverse- osmosis chamber, and delivering the captured power to the pressurization subsystem.
  • the pressurized brine and the purified water are carried between the body of water and components of the wave-powered desalination system by passive conduits without changing a pressure, a composition or a magnitude of a flow of each of the input seawater, the pressurized brine and the purified water.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram of a conventional desalination system.
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating that conversion of fluid-motion power into other forms of power is reversible.
  • Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating recovery power from the brine exiting the RO system.
  • Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the integration of a recovery motor and a pump powered by the recovery motor into a single unit.
  • Fig. 5 is a diagram of a conventional WEC-powered reverse-osmosis desalination system.
  • Fig. 6 is a diagram providing a comparison of three embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments differ in the way in which wave and recovery power are used to pressurize the seawater flow.
  • Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating Two-Stage Pressurization, as well as Upstream vs. Downstream Recovery-Powered Pressurization.
  • Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating Two-Stage Pressurization, as well as Recovery pressurization downstream and discrete (motor + pump).
  • Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating Two-Stage Pressurization, as well as Recovery pressurization downstream and integrated.
  • Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating Two-Stage Pressurization, as well as Recovery- powered pressurization upstream and discrete.
  • Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating Two-Stage Pressurization, as well as Recovery- powered pressurization upstream and integrated.
  • Fig. 12a is a diagram of a surgeWEC Paddle that converts fluid wave power into translational mechanical power.
  • Fig. 12b is a diagram of a surgeWEC Paddle that converts fluid wave power into rotational mechanical power.
  • Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating conversion of brine-flow power into translational mechanical power.
  • Fig. 14 is a diagram of a Single-stage wave-powered desalination system illustrating discrete components mounted to a common translational power transmission.
  • Fig. 15 is a diagram of a Single-stage wave-powered desalination system illustrating integration into a single device all three components, wave and brine power capture and pressurization of the seawater flow.
  • FIG. 16 is an illustration of the single integrated device appearing in Fig 15.
  • Fig. 16 illustrates a WEC-assisted Clark pump.
  • FIG. 17 is an illustration of an Oscillating Rotary Vane Pump (or Motor) comprising a single rotor-stator pair.
  • FIG. 18 is an illustration of an Oscillating Rotary Vane Pump & Motor comprising a double rotor-stator vane pair.
  • Fig. 19 is a schematic cross section of a WEC-assisted Clark pump showing how the ratio of brine flow to seawater flow is controlled by the diameter of the connection between the two Clark pump pistons.
  • Fig. 20 is a schematic cross section of a WEC-assisted Clark pump in which the ratio of the brine flow to the seawater flow is controlled by the diameters of the right- and left-hand cylinders comprising the form of the WEC-assisted Clark pump.
  • Fig. 21 is a schematic cross section of a two-rotor-stator pair WEC-assisted Clark pump.
  • Fig. 21 illustrates an oscillating rotary vane pump or motor with a double rotor-stator pair, and unequal brine and seawater flows.
  • wave-powered desalination requires capturing the power available from both wave motion and the brine flow, and using this captured power to pressurize the seawater entering the RO chamber.
  • all of the embodiments described below involve devices that capture the fluid-motion power in two flows, the wave motion and the high-pressure brine flow, and that use the captured power to pressurize the seawater flow.
  • the embodiments described all combine capture and pressurization devices in different ways.
  • RO desalination involves three fluid flows.
  • the power available in two of these flows, wave motion and the flushing brine flow, are captured and used to pressurize the seawater flow into the RO chamber.
  • This fundamental structure leads to the one- and two- stage alternatives shown in Fig. 6.
  • the wave and brine power sources can be applied to the seawater flow either together or independently. If applied independently, the two power sources can be applied to the seawater stream in either order, leading to the three configurations shown in Fig. 6.
  • Each of the three configurations shown in Fig. 6 has its advantages. Below we describe the issues relevant to these configurations and the embodiments that exploit them.
  • Embodiment Options Number of pressurization stages
  • Fig. 6 is a diagram providing a comparison of three embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments differ in the ways in which wave and recovery power are used to pressurize the seawater flow.
  • Fig. 6 indicates, a distinction among the disclosed embodiments is whether seawater pressurization is accomplished in two stages or one.
  • One aspect of the distinction between single-stage and two-stage pressurization is that two-stage pressurization allows the straightforward exploitation of the very efficient Clark pump.
  • Fig. 7 focuses on the differences between the two sequential orderings of wave- powered and brine-powered pressurization that are available in two-stage pressurization.
  • the two orderings are labeled upstream and downstream, indicating where in the seawater flow the recovery-powered pressurization 702 occurs relative to the WEC-powered pressurization 701. If the recovery-powered pressurization 702 is downstream of the WEC-powered pressurization 701, it can be performed entirely on land. If it is performed upstream, then the pressurized output of the recovery-powered pressurization 701 must be piped to provide input to the underwater WEC device 703.
  • Fig. 7 demonstrates that pressurization can be done in two different sequential orders. Pressurization powered by waves and by recovery can be done in either order.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates the two-stage configuration in which recovery-powered pressurization 802 occurs downstream of the WEC-powered pressurization 801.
  • pressurization powered by waves occurs before (upstream) a second stage powered by recovery.
  • Output from the recovery-powered pressurization 802 flows to the RO chamber 803.
  • Fig. 8 shows details of a realistic system using this configuration.
  • the additional detail includes an accumulator 804, additional filters 805, a storage container as well as other components.
  • the accumulator 804 acts as both pressure smoothing device and as a fly wheel.
  • the accumulator 804 is an energy storage device that captures and stores energy when the pressure in the flow is high, and returns the captured energy to the flow when the pressure in the flow is low.
  • a typical accumulator is described in the patent GB 1,104,527 and in the more recent international patent application WO 2004043576, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
  • the accumulator functions by allowing a flow to occupy a flexible bladder whose expansion and contraction changes the volume available to a fixed quantity of compressible gas. Pressure fluctuations in the incompressible flow are thereby reduced.
  • the additional filters 805 remove relatively large impurities from the seawater flow.
  • Additional components in the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 8, including the brine-dilution tank 806 and the calcium-neutralizer tank 816, are generic components of desalination facilities.
  • Fig. 8 The function of the Fig. 8 embodiment may be explained by considering the various illustrated flows.
  • low pressure seawater 807 is filtered by filters 805 and provided to a wave-energy-conversion (WEC) subsystem 808, which powers two conventional linear displacement pumps 809 that pressurize the low pressure seawater 807 into medium pressure seawater 810.
  • WEC subsystem 808 is powered by ocean waves, and may include a so-called surge-type wave-energy converter (surgeWEC), such as those described in more detail with respect to Figs. 12a and 12b, and as illustrated in the Fig. 8 embodiment.
  • surgeWEC surge-type wave-energy converter
  • the conventional linear pumps 809 are attached to a surgeWEC paddle 817, which oscillates in response to waves propagating at the surface of large bodies of water.
  • the medium pressure seawater 810 flows to accumulator 804 (described above), and ultimately flows to a recovery booster pump 811.
  • the recovery booster pump 811 adds further pressure to the medium pressure seawater 810 which then flows to the RO chamber 803 as high pressure seawater 812.
  • the high pressure seawater 812 then flows through the RO chamber 803 to generate two flows: 1) low-pressure permeate (desalinated water / fresh water) 813 and 2) high pressure brine 814.
  • the high pressure brine 814 powers a motor 815 (such as a turbine), and that captured energy can be used to drive booster pump 811 which contributes to the pressurization of medium pressure seawater 810 into high pressure seawater 812 that flows to the RO chamber 803 to generate low-pressure permeate (desalinated water / fresh water) 813.
  • the energy-recovery subsystem comprises the motor 815, which is configured to convert power carried by the high pressure brine flow 814 into power configured to drive the booster pump 811, and the booster pump 811 is configured to assist in pressurizing the medium pressure seawater 810.
  • the booster pump 811 may be configured to transfer a pressure of the high pressure brine flow 814 directly to the medium pressure seawater 810 without conversion into, and back out of, mechanical power.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates recovery as independent capture and pressurization devices
  • Fig. 9 shows these devices as integrated into a Clark pump.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates the two-stage configuration in which recovery-powered pressurization 902 occurs downstream of the WEC-powered pressurization 901.
  • pressurization powered by waves occurs before (upstream) a second stage powered by recovery.
  • Output from the recovery-powered pressurization 902 flows to the RO chamber 903.
  • the recovery-powered pressurization 902 is achieved using a Clark pump.
  • Fig. 9 shows details of a realistic system using this configuration.
  • the additional detail includes an accumulator 904, additional filters 905, a storage container as well as other components.
  • the accumulator 904 acts as both pressure smoothing device and as a fly wheel.
  • the accumulator 904 is an energy storage device that captures and stores energy when the pressure in the flow is high, and returns the captured energy to the flow when the pressure in the flow is low.
  • the accumulator functions by allowing a flow to occupy a flexible bladder whose expansion and contraction changes the volume available to a fixed quantity of compressible gas. Pressure fluctuations in the incompressible flow are thereby reduced.
  • the additional filters 905 remove relatively large impurities from the seawater flow. Additional components in the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 9, including the brine-dilution tank 906 and the calcium-neutralizer tank 916, are generic components of desalination facilities.
  • Fig. 9 The operation of the Fig. 9 embodiment may be explained by considering the various illustrated flows.
  • low pressure seawater 907 is filtered by filters 905 and provided to a wave-energy-conversion (WEC) subsystem 908, which powers two conventional linear displacement pumps 909 that pressurize the low pressure seawater 907 into medium pressure seawater 910.
  • WEC subsystem 908 is powered by ocean waves, and may include a so-called surge-type wave-energy converter (surgeWEC), such as those described in more detail with respect to Figs. 12a and 12b, and as illustrated in the Fig. 9 embodiment.
  • surgeWEC surge-type wave-energy converter
  • the conventional linear pumps 909 are attached to a surgeWEC paddle 917, which oscillates in response to waves propagating at the surface of large bodies of water.
  • the medium pressure seawater 910 flows to accumulator 904 (described above), and ultimately flows to a Clark pump 911. Operation of the Clark pump 911 will be discussed in further detail below.
  • the recovery Clark pump 911 adds further pressure to the medium pressure seawater 910 which then flows to the RO chamber 903 as high pressure seawater 912. As explained above with reference Fig. 4, the high pressure seawater 912 then flows through the RO chamber 903 to generate two flows: 1) low-pressure permeate (desalinated water / fresh water) 913 and 2) high pressure brine 914.
  • the high pressure brine 914 is introduced into the Clark pump 911, which comprises a motor (such as a a piston
  • a booster pump that contributes to the pressurization of medium pressure seawater 910 into high pressure seawater 912 that flows to the RO chamber 903 to generate low- pressure permeate (desalinated water / fresh water) 913.
  • the illustrated embodiment of a Clark pump 911 uses two opposing cylinders A and B, with pistons that share a single rod that passes through a center block.
  • a reversing valve which is controlled by a pilot valve that may be mechanically actuated by the pistons, allows the two opposing cylinders to alternate between driving and pressurizing.
  • feed pressure from the high pressure brine 914 is directed into cylinder A and pushes against the piston proximate to cylinder A, pushing the rod through the center block.
  • the brine in cylinder B which has gone through the RO chamber 903 on the previous stroke, is discharged. Cylinder A starts to pressurize when the piston and rod are forced into it.
  • a pressure of low pressure seawater is increased in a first step powered by wave energy converted by a WEC subsystem and a second step powered by power recovered from a pressurized brine flow by the energy-recovery subsystem (i.e., the motor and booster pump of Fig. 8 or the Clark pump of Fig. 9).
  • the energy-recovery subsystem i.e., the motor and booster pump of Fig. 8 or the Clark pump of Fig. 9.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates two-stage pressurization in which the recovery-powered
  • the pressurization 1002 is upstream of the WEC-powered pressurization 1001.
  • the recovery- powered pressurization may occur onshore, as illustrated in Fig. 10.
  • the recovery-powered pressurization is shown as two independent devices, a motor 1015 (such as a turbine) that converts the brine-flow power into mechanical power, and a booster pump 1011 that converts this mechanical power into pressurization of the seawater flow.
  • Fig. 10 shows details of a realistic system using this configuration.
  • the additional detail includes an accumulator 1004, additional filters 1005, a storage container as well as other components.
  • the accumulator 1004 acts as both pressure smoothing device and as a fly wheel.
  • the accumulator 1004 is an energy storage device that captures and stores energy when the pressure in the flow is high, and returns the captured energy to the flow when the pressure in the flow is low.
  • the accumulator functions by allowing a flow to occupy a flexible bladder whose expansion and contraction changes the volume available to a fixed quantity of compressible gas. Pressure fluctuations in the incompressible flow are thereby reduced.
  • the additional filters 1005 remove relatively large impurities from the seawater flow. Additional components in the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 10, including the calcium- neutralizer tank 1016, are generic components of desalination facilities.
  • Fig. 10 The operation of the Fig. 10 embodiment may be explained by considering the various illustrated flows.
  • high pressure brine 1014 exiting the RO chamber 1003 powers a motor 1015 (such as a turbine), and that captured energy can be used to drive booster pump 1011 which contributes to the pressurization of low pressure seawater 1007 into medium pressure seawater 1010.
  • the medium pressure seawater 1010 is filtered by filters 1005 and provided to a wave-energy-conversion (WEC) subsystem 1008, which powers two conventional linear displacement pumps 1009 that pressurize the medium pressure seawater 1010 into high pressure seawater 1012.
  • WEC wave-energy-conversion
  • the WEC subsystem 1008 is powered by ocean waves, and may include a so-called surge-type wave-energy converter (surgeWEC), such as those described in more detail with respect to Figs. 12a and 12b, and as illustrated in the Fig. 10 embodiment.
  • surgeWEC surge-type wave-energy converter
  • the conventional linear pumps 1009 are attached to a surgeWEC paddle 1017, which oscillates in response to waves
  • the high pressure seawater 1012 flows to accumulator 1004 (described above), and ultimately flows to the RO chamber 1003.
  • the high pressure seawater 1012 flows through the RO chamber 1003 to generate two flows: 1) low-pressure permeate (desalinated water / fresh water) 1013 and 2) high pressure brine 1014.
  • the high pressure brine 1014 is then used in another cycle of the upstream recovery step.
  • Fig. 11 illustrates a system in which recovery-powered pressurization occurs onshore and first (upstream). Operation of the system of Fig. 11 is similar to that of Fig. 10, except that in the system of Fig. 11, the motor 1015 and the drive booster pump 1011 of Fig. 10 are replaced with a Clark pump 1111. Fig. 11 shows details of a realistic system using this configuration. The additional detail includes an accumulator 1104, additional filters 1105, a storage container as well as other components.
  • the accumulator 1104 acts as both pressure smoothing device and as a fly wheel.
  • the accumulator 1004 is an energy storage device that captures and stores energy when the pressure in the flow is high, and returns the captured energy to the flow when the pressure in the flow is low.
  • the accumulator 1104 functions by allowing a flow to occupy a flexible bladder whose expansion and contraction changes the volume available to a fixed quantity of compressible gas. Pressure fluctuations in the incompressible flow are thereby reduced.
  • the additional filters 1105 remove relatively large impurities from the seawater flow. Additional components in the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 11, including the calcium-neutralizer tank 1116, are generic components of desalination facilities.
  • Fig. 11 The operation of the Fig. 11 embodiment may be explained by considering the various illustrated flows.
  • high pressure brine 1114 exiting the RO chamber 1103 powers a Clark pump 11 11 which contributes to the pressurization of low pressure seawater 1107 into medium pressure seawater 1110.
  • the medium pressure seawater 1110 is filtered by filters 1105 and provided to a wave-energy-conversion (WEC) subsystem 1108, which powers two conventional linear displacement pumps 1109 that pressurize the medium pressure seawater 1110 into high pressure seawater 1112.
  • WEC subsystem 1108 is powered by ocean waves, and may include a so-called surge-type wave-energy converter (surgeWEC), such as those described in more detail with respect to Figs.
  • surgeWEC surge-type wave-energy converter
  • the conventional linear pumps 1109 are attached to a surgeWEC paddle 1117, which oscillates in response to waves propagating at the surface of large bodies of water.
  • the high pressure seawater 1112 flows to accumulator 1104 (described above), and ultimately flows to the RO chamber 1103.
  • the high pressure seawater 1112 flows through the RO chamber 1103 to generate two flows: 1) low-pressure permeate (desalinated water / fresh water) 1113 and 2) high pressure brine 1014.
  • the high pressure brine 1114 is then used in another cycle of the upstream recovery step.
  • the illustrated embodiment of a Clark pump 1111 uses two opposing cylinders A and B, with pistons that share a single rod that passes through a center block.
  • a reversing valve which is controlled by a pilot valve that may be mechanically actuated by the pistons, allows the two opposing cylinders to alternate between driving and pressurizing.
  • feed pressure from the high pressure brine 1114 is directed into cylinder A and pushes against the piston proximate to cylinder A, pushing the rod through the center block.
  • the brine in cylinder B which has gone through the RO chamber 1103 on the previous stroke, is discharged. Cylinder A starts to pressurize when the piston and rod are forced into it.
  • low pressure seawater 1107 entering cylinder A of the Clark pump 1111 is pressurized and becomes medium pressure seawater 1110.
  • the medium pressure seawater 1110 circulates through the WEC subsystem 1108, where it is pressurized and becomes high pressure seawater 1112 that is introduced to the RO chamber 1103.
  • the high pressure brine 1114 output from the RO chamber 1103 on the subsequent stroke enters the Clark pump 1111 through the reversing valve. Although the subsequent stroke is not illustrated in Fig.
  • the reversing valve changes position such that the high pressure brine 114 from the subsequent stroke is directed into cylinder B and pushes against the piston proximate to cylinder B, pushing the rod through the center block in a reverse direction.
  • the brine in cylinder A which went through the RO chamber 1103 on the previous stroke, is discharged.
  • Cylinder B starts to pressurize when the piston and rod are forced into it.
  • low pressure seawater 1107 entering cylinder A of the Clark pump 1111 is pressurized and becomes medium pressure seawater 1110.
  • the medium pressure seawater 1110 circulates through the WEC subsystem 1108, where it is pressurized and becomes high pressure seawater 1112 that is introduced to the RO chamber 1103.
  • the high pressure brine 1114 output from the RO chamber 1103 on the subsequent stroke enters the Clark pump 1111 through the reversing valve, which again changes position. The processes described above are then repeated.
  • a pressure of low pressure seawater is increased in a first step powered by power recovered from the high pressure brine flow by the energy- recovery subsystem (i.e., the motor and booster pump of Fig. 10 or the Clark pump of Fig. 11) and a second step powered by wave energy converted by the wave-energy-converter subsystem.
  • the energy- recovery subsystem i.e., the motor and booster pump of Fig. 10 or the Clark pump of Fig. 11
  • pressurization of the seawater flow can be accomplished in a single step or stage.
  • This consolidation of wave- powered and brine-powered pressurization can be accomplished in two ways. Embodiments of both types are described. First, the power in the wave motion and that in the brine flow can both be converted into mechanical power, where they can be combined to power a pump that pressurizes the seawater flow.
  • This approach is labeled single-stage, discrete recovery, reflecting the fact that it comprises independent conversion devices all mounted to a common power- transfer device.
  • the wave-energy-converter subsystem and the energy-recovery subsystem are configured to convert fluid-motion power into mechanical power that is delivered by a common transmission shaft to a pump configured to pressurize the seawater flow.
  • An alternative approach comprises assisting, or amplifying, the pressure transfer provided by a Clark pump with power captured from wave motion. Embodiments illustrating both approaches are described below.
  • the mechanical power used in a single-stage system includes translation mechanical power or rotational mechanical power.
  • translation mechanical power or rotational mechanical power Consider first the conversion of the two fluid-power sources, the waves and the brine flow, into mechanical power.
  • the capture and conversion of the fluid-motion power of waves into mechanical power can produce power in several forms, such as electrical or mechanical.
  • Mechanical power produced by a WEC can itself be of two types, translational or rotational.
  • the two types of mechanical power that can be produced by a surgeWEC are contrasted in Figs. 12a and 12b.
  • Figs. 12a and 12b show a surgeWEC paddle 1201 oscillating rotationally about the hinge which is attached to a sea-bed platform 1204.
  • a surgeWEC paddle 1201 is attached to a conventional linear displacement pump 1202, as shown in Fig. 12a, the motion of the piston in such a system is translational. If the surgeWEC paddle 1201 is attached to a rotary vane pump 1203, as shown in Fig. 12b, the mechanical power is rotational. Fig. 12a shows additionally that translational motion along multiple axes is available. Synthesis of wave-powered and brine-powered pressurization can use either form. Embodiments utilizing both power forms are described below.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates the type of linear-displacement fluid motor that can be used to capture and convert the power in the high-pressure brine flow.
  • the diagram of Fig. 13 illustrates a fluid motor that converts the power carried by the high-pressure brine flow into translational mechanical power.
  • the valves of Fig. 13 are not passive check (one-way) valves. Instead, the valves controlling the entry of the brine flow are piloted (controlled) switch valves, while the valves controlling the exit of the brine flow are piloted check valves.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates a system operating in this manner.
  • the system illustrated in Fig. 14 exploits single-stage pressurization.
  • the additional detail includes an accumulator 1404, additional filters 1405, a storage container as well as other components.
  • the accumulator 1404 acts as both pressure smoothing device and as a fly wheel.
  • the accumulator 1404 is an energy storage device that captures and stores energy when the pressure in the flow is high, and returns the captured energy to the flow when the pressure in the flow is low.
  • the accumulator 1404 functions by allowing a flow to occupy a flexible bladder whose expansion and contraction changes the volume available to a fixed quantity of compressible gas. Pressure fluctuations in the incompressible flow are thereby reduced.
  • the additional filters 1405 remove relatively large impurities from the low pressure seawater flow 1407. Additional components in the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 14, including the calcium-neutralizer tank 1416, are generic components of desalination facilities.
  • low pressure seawater flow i.e., input seawater flow
  • WEC wave- energy-conversion
  • the linear displacement pump 1409 and the modified Clark pressure-transfer device 1411 pressurize the low pressure seawater 1407 into high pressure seawater 1412.
  • the modified Clark pressure -transfer device 1411 includes a translationally oscillating drive shaft 1418 extending outside of a housing of the pump.
  • the WEC subsystem 1408 is powered by ocean waves, and may include a so-called surge-type wave-energy converter (surge WEC), such as those described in more detail with respect to Figs. 12a and 12b, and as illustrated in the Fig. 14 embodiment.
  • surge WEC surge-type wave-energy converter
  • the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1418 is coupled at one end to a surgeWEC paddle
  • the linear-displacement pump 1409 is generally powered when the illustrated surgeWEC paddle 1417 is moving forward (towards the accumulator 1404 in the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 13) in response to incident wave action propagating at the surface of large bodies of water.
  • the power carried by the high pressure brine flow 1414 is converted to mechanical power by a component like that described in Fig. 13.
  • a pressure of the low pressure seawater 1407 is increased in a single step in which power carried by the high pressure brine flow 1414 is converted to translational mechanical power, which assists in the powering of the linear displacement pump 1409.
  • the translational mechanical power is carried by a
  • translationally oscillating drive shaft 1418 configured to assist in the powering of the linear- displacement pump 1409, which pressurizes the low pressure seawater flow 1407.
  • the high pressure brine flow 1414 pushes an end of the translationally oscillating drive shaft
  • the WEC subsystem may also be configured to power the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1418.
  • the reversing valve of the modified Clark pressure-transfer device 1411 which is itself controlled by a pilot valve, may be mechanically controlled or may be controlled by an electronic control system.
  • the reversing valve is configured to move into position to allow the application of high pressure brine flow 1414 against an end of the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1418 in response to initial movement of the surgeWEC paddle 1417 into the forward direction to power the linear-displacement pump 1409 (as discussed above).
  • the surgeWEC paddle 1417 or the hinge to which the surgeWEC paddle 1417 is attached includes a sensor to sense initial movement of the surgeWEC paddle 1417 in a forward direction, at which point an mechanical solenoid configures the reversing valve to move into position to allow the application of high pressure brine flow 1414 against an end of the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1418.
  • the electronic control system includes prediction algorithms to predict the incident wave action propagating at the surface of the body of water, and a mechanical solenoid configures the reversing valve to move into position to allow the application of high pressure brine flow 1414 against an end of the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1418 at time when the surgeWEC paddle 1417 is predicted to begin moving forward in response to wave action.
  • the high pressure seawater 1412 flows to accumulator 1404 (described above), and then flows through the RO chamber 1403 to generate two flows: 1) low-pressure permeate (desalinated water / fresh water) 1413 and 2) high pressure brine 1414.
  • the high pressure brine 1414 is then introduced into the modified Clark pressure- transfer device 1411.
  • Fig. 12a and 14 also illustrate the fact that, although both wave and brine power are converted to translational mechanical power, this power is not transmitted along a common axis.
  • Fig. 15 illustrates the alternative approach in which the Clark pressure-transfer device is assisted by captured wave power.
  • Fig. 15 is a diagram of a Single-stage wave-powered desalination system illustrating integration into a single device all three components: wave and brine power capture and pressurization of the seawater flow.
  • the system illustrated in Fig. 15 employs a wave-power amplified Clark pressure-transfer device (i.e., a modified Clark pump or modified Clark pressure -transfer device).
  • Fig. 16 expands the view of the single integrated device appearing in Fig 15. In the embodiment of Fig.
  • a pressure of the low pressure seawater flow 1507 is increased in a single step wherein a pressure of the high pressure brine flow 1514 is transferred directly to the low pressure seawater flow 1507 by the modified Clark pressure-transfer device (i.e., a Clark pump) 1511, and pressurization of the low pressure seawater flow 1507 by the modified Clark pressure-transfer device 1511 is amplified by an addition of wave power to a translationally oscillating motion of the pressure-transfer device.
  • movement of the WEC forwards and backwards affects the translation of pistons within the Clark pump, that in turn affect the high pressure brine flow and the high pressure seawater flow.
  • the additional detail includes an accumulator 1504, additional filters 1505, a storage container as well as other components.
  • the accumulator 1504 acts as both pressure smoothing device and as a fly wheel.
  • the accumulator 1504 is an energy storage device that captures and stores energy when the pressure in the flow is high, and returns the captured energy to the flow when the pressure in the flow is low.
  • the accumulator 1504 functions by allowing a flow to occupy a flexible bladder whose expansion and contraction changes the volume available to a fixed quantity of compressible gas. Pressure fluctuations in the incompressible flow are thereby reduced.
  • the additional filters 1505 remove relatively large impurities from the low pressure seawater flow 1507. Additional components in the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 15, including the calcium-neutralizer tank 1516, are generic components of desalination facilities.
  • low pressure seawater flow (i.e., input seawater flow) 1507 is filtered by filters 1505 and is provided to a wave-energy-conversion (WEC) subsystem 1508, which powers two modified Clark pressure-transfer devices 1511 configured to pressurize the low pressure seawater 1507 into high pressure seawater 1512.
  • the modified Clark pressure-transfer devices 1511 each include a translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518 extending outside of a housing of the pump.
  • the WEC subsystem 1508 is powered by ocean waves, and may include a so-called surge-type wave-energy converter (surgeWEC), such as those described in more detail with respect to Figs. 12a and 12b, and as illustrated in the Fig. 15 embodiment.
  • surgeWEC surge-type wave-energy converter
  • Each translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518 is coupled at one end to a surgeWEC paddle 1517, which oscillates in response to waves propagating at the surface of large bodies of water.
  • the power carried by the high pressure brine flow 1514 is converted to mechanical power by a component like that described in Fig. 13.
  • a pressure of the low pressure seawater 1507 is increased in a single step in which power carried by the high pressure brine flow 1514 is converted to translational mechanical power.
  • the high pressure brine flow 1514 can enter one or both of the modified Clark pressure -transfer devices 1511, depending on a configuration of a pilot switch control (see Fig. 16) that modifies a position of a pilot switch.
  • Each modified Clark pressure -transfer device 1511 may include a pilot switch control, or the modified Clark pressure-transfer devices 1511 may share the same pilot switch control.
  • the pilot switch control may modify the position of the pilot switch automatically based, for example, on pressure within the modified Clark pressure-transfer device or a position of a translationally oscillating drive shaft. Alternatively, the pilot switch control may modify the position of the pilot switch based on manual input of an operator.
  • Each modified Clark pressure-transfer device includes a translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518 and an dog-bone-shaped piston 1519.
  • dog-bone-shaped refers to a shape having substantially horizontal, elongated mid-section having enlarged ends (i.e., ends of the piston have a larger circumference than the mid-section).
  • a first end of the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518 is coupled to the surgeWEC paddle 1517, and a second end of the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518 is coupled to the dog-bone-shaped piston 1519.
  • the translational mechanical power is carried by the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518 and the dog-bone-shaped piston 1519 in order to pressurize the low pressure seawater flow 1507.
  • the high pressure brine flow 1514 pushes an end of the dog-bone-shaped piston 1519, for example, in a forward direction (i.e., away from the surgeWEC paddle 1517).
  • a forward direction i.e., away from the surgeWEC paddle 1517.
  • the translationally oscillating drive shaft is coupled to both the surgeWEC paddle 1517 and the dog- bone-shaped piston 1519, as the surgeWEC paddle 1517 moves in the forward direction, the low pressure seawater flow 1507 is pressured.
  • the surgeWEC paddle 1517 is moving in the forward direction, but at other times, the surge WEC paddle 1517 may be moving in a backward direction.
  • the orientation (i.e., open or closed) position of the valves in the passive conduits can be changed such that when the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518 and the dog-bone-shaped piston
  • the WEC subsystem may also be configured to power the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518.
  • the reversing valve of the modified Clark pressure-transfer device 1511 which is itself controlled by a pilot valve, may be mechanically controlled or may be controlled by an electronic control system.
  • the reversing valve is configured to move into position to allow the application of high pressure brine flow 1514 against an end of the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518 in response to initial movement of the surgeWEC paddle 1517 into the forward direction.
  • the surgeWEC paddle 1517 or the hinge to which the surgeWEC paddle 1517 is attached includes a sensor to sense initial movement of the surgeWEC paddle 1517 in a forward direction, at which point an mechanical solenoid configures the reversing valve to move into position to allow the application of high pressure brine flow 1514 against an end of the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518.
  • the electronic control system includes prediction algorithms to predict the incident wave action propagating at the surface of the body of water, and a mechanical solenoid configures the reversing valve to move into position to allow the application of high pressure brine flow 1514 against an end of the translationally oscillating drive shaft 1518 at time when the surgeWEC paddle 1517 is predicted to begin moving forward in response to wave action.
  • the high pressure seawater 1512 exits the modified Clark pressure -transfer devices 1511 and flows to accumulator 1504 (described above), and then flows through the RO chamber 1503 to generate two flows: 1) low-pressure permeate (desalinated water / fresh water) 1513 and 2) high pressure brine 1514.
  • the high pressure brine 1514 is then introduced into the modified Clark pressure -transfer devices 1511, thereby repeating the cycle.
  • Rotational As mentioned above, in connection with Figs. 12a and 12b, capture and conversion of the power in both waves and the high-pressure brine flow can result in either of two forms of mechanical power: translational and rotational. Rotational power can be exploited in similar ways to those used to exploit translational power, although the devices providing the required functionalities are different.
  • a surge WEC paddle oscillates rotationally about the hinge by which it is attached to a platform.
  • a vane pump Analogous to a linear-displacement pump for the conversion of translational mechanical power, a vane pump provides the same functionality for rotational mechanical power.
  • the piston of the linear-displacement pump is replaced by a rotating vane which is attached to the hinge of the oscillating surgeWEC paddle.
  • the powered vane drives and pressurizes the water in front of it.
  • a stationary vane blocks the rotor-propelled water, forcing it to exit through a controlled valve, as shown in Fig. 17.
  • a vane extending radially outward from a rotor radially drives the fluid confined in front of the vane angularly within a confining cylinder.
  • a second vane extending radially inward from the confining cylinder blocks the angular flow, forcing the flow out of the cylinder through a controlled valve.
  • Fig. 17 illustrates the operation of such a pump. Note that such a pump or motor must oscillate; it cannot rotate freely, as the vanes would collide.
  • the maximum angular stroke of the device shown in Fig. 17 is less than 360° (180° in both directions). Finite vane thickness safety margins, etc., render the practical maximum angular stroke to 140° in both directions.
  • Fig. 18 illustrates a Vane pump (or motor) comprising two rotor-stator pairs. Note that the maximum stroke of the configuration shown in Fig. 17 is twice that of the configuration shown in Fig. 18. A maximum stroke of 90° or more can be exploited to lock the surgeWEC paddle in a nominally horizontal position during dangerously violent weather.
  • Fig. 19 is a schematic cross section of WEC- assisted Clark pump showing how the ratio of brine flow to seawater flow is controlled by the diameter of the connection between the two Clark-pump pistons.
  • a ratio of the high pressure brine flow to the low pressure seawater flow is fixed by a ratio of a diameter of a connection between two pistons of the Clark pump (i.e., pressure -transfer device) to a diameter of a cylinder in which the two pistons move.
  • Fig. 20 is a schematic cross section of a WEC-assisted Clark pump in which the ratio of the brine flow to the seawater flow is controlled by the diameters of the right- and left-hand cylinders comprising the form of the WEC-assisted Clark pump.
  • a ratio of the high pressure brine flow to the low pressure seawater flow may be fixed by a ratio of diameters of two coaxial cylinders in which two pistons of the Clark pump possess different diameters, and move in cylinders possessing different diameters.
  • a conversion of fluid-motion power into oscillatory rotational power and/or a conversion of oscillatory rotational power into fluid-motion power may be effected by a vane pump-motor pair, each vane pump in the vane pump-motor pair comprising a single rotor- stator pair.
  • a ratio of the high pressure brine flow to the low pressure seawater flow may be fixed by a ratio of diameters of two coaxial single-rotor-stator-pair vane pumps.
  • the required volume difference can be achieved by different cylinder diameters in the two subvolumes in which the brine and seawater rotor vanes move.
  • Fig. 21 is a schematic cross section of a two-rotor-stator pair WEC-assisted Clark pump.
  • the thicker wall on the right-hand side of the cylinder renders the volume used by the brine flow smaller than that used by the seawater flow.
  • a conversion of fluid-motion power into oscillatory rotational power and/or a conversion of oscillatory rotational power into fluid-motion power are effected by at least one vane pump, the at least one vane pump comprising two rotor-stator pairs.
  • a ratio of the high pressure brine flow to the input seawater flow is fixed by a ratio of heights of rotor vanes that move in the high pressure brine flow and the low pressure seawater flow, and a diameter of a connection between two pistons of a Clark pump to a diameter of a cylinder in which the two pistons move.
  • the advantages of the embodiments described herein include, but are not limited to: exploitation of low-cost and widely-available wave energy, reduction of manufacturing and deployment costs due to the relative simplicity and integration of the system components, reduction of operational costs due the relative efficiency of the integrated components, and reduction of operational costs due the relative efficiency of systems comprised of relatively fewer system components.
  • Coupled means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de dessalement à houle, qui comprend un sous-système de convertisseur d'énergie houlomotrice, un sous-système de mise sous pression, une chambre à osmose inverse et un sous-système de récupération d'énergie. Le sous-système de convertisseur d'énergie houlomotrice convertit en énergie mécanique l'énergie transportée par les vagues se propageant sur une masse d'eau. Le sous-système de mise sous pression met sous pression un flux d'eau de mer d'entrée en deux étapes au maximum, au moyen de deux étapes de mise sous pression au maximum. La chambre à osmose inverse comprend une membrane ayant une pluralité de passages disposés à l'intérieur de celle-ci, reçoit l'eau de mer mise sous pression et divise l'eau de mer mise sous pression en un flux de perméat d'eau purifiée et un flux de saumure mis sous pression qui éloigne des particules qui ne passent pas à travers la membrane. Le sous-système de récupération d'énergie capture l'énergie portée par le flux de saumure mis sous pression, qui sort de la chambre à osmose inverse, et distribue l'énergie capturée au sous-système de mise sous pression.
PCT/US2013/077107 2012-12-21 2013-12-20 Système de dessalement à houle intégré WO2014100674A1 (fr)

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CN104671354A (zh) * 2015-02-16 2015-06-03 集美大学 波浪能驱动的空气压海水淡化系统
WO2017210800A1 (fr) 2016-06-10 2017-12-14 Oneka Technologies Système et procédé de dessalement d'eau par osmose inverse
CN108105014A (zh) * 2018-01-30 2018-06-01 重庆大学 一种垂直轴双流线型自动开合式水轮机
CN110204009A (zh) * 2019-07-05 2019-09-06 合肥工业大学 一种波浪能和太阳能海水淡化及制盐的装置
US20210031143A1 (en) * 2019-07-30 2021-02-04 Regents Of The University Of Minnesota Fluid power circuit having switch-mode power transformer and methods
EP3856682A4 (fr) * 2018-09-25 2022-06-22 Resolute Marine Energy Inc. Système de dessalement alimenté par des vagues océaniques
NO20210590A1 (no) * 2021-05-12 2022-11-14 Ocean Oasis As Anordning for fluidbehandling
CN117263320A (zh) * 2023-10-23 2023-12-22 德州海纳祺环保科技有限公司 一种海水反渗透净化能量回收系统和能量回收方法
WO2023246976A1 (fr) 2022-06-21 2023-12-28 Stirn Wilhelm M Procédé de fonctionnement d'une installation d'osmose inverse ; installation d'osmose inverse

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CN110204009A (zh) * 2019-07-05 2019-09-06 合肥工业大学 一种波浪能和太阳能海水淡化及制盐的装置
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WO2023246976A1 (fr) 2022-06-21 2023-12-28 Stirn Wilhelm M Procédé de fonctionnement d'une installation d'osmose inverse ; installation d'osmose inverse
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