Apparatus, method and system for desalinating water using energy recovery
An apparatus, system and method to purify water is disclosed. Pumps and energy recovery devices for taking water from an intake, filtering the water to remove solid contaminates before running the filtered water through the reverse osmosis system to the discharge device and purified water lines are described. The system may comprise a control panel that controls the plurality of filters, plurality of reverse osmosis membranes, purified water line and effluent discharge device, to achieve favorable water purification. A method that utilizes the apparatus and/or system is described herein.
1 . A method comprising:
a. obtaining at least one reverse osmosis housing device for holding a plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the at least one reverse osmosis housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, and wherein at least one connection of the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid is a fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid with the at least one reverse osmosis housing device;
b. operating a control device for the at least one reverse osmosis housing device configured to hold a plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid;
c. automatically inserting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid into the at least one reverse osmosis housing device using an automated insertion device, wherein the membranes are connected to fluid and power connections that align and correspond to the housing device;
d. obtaining a plurality of energy recovery devices for recapturing pressure energy from water running through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and returning the pressure energy to move additional water through at least a portion of the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid;
e. using the control device to coordinate energy recovery from the plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid
f. using energy from the plurality of energy recovery devices to move water through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; and
g. removing brine from the water being moved through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid from the at least one reverse osmosis housing device.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices is located on a skid and further comprising obtaining at least one energy recovery housing device for holding the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the at least one reverse osmosis housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, and wherein at least one connection on the at least one reverse osmosis housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid is a fluid line connecting the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid with the at least one energy recovery housing.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid is a container with automated equipment and further comprising using the automated insertion device for inserting and removing the container with automated equipment, and wherein the automated insertion device is operated by the control device.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
a. using an inlet device for obtaining the water;
b. using at least one pump for moving the water from the inlet device to at least one reverse osmosis housing device; and
c. using at least one filter for removing particles in the water.
6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising removing the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid from the at least one energy recovery housing.
7 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising inserting the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid from the at least one energy recovery housing.
8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid is a container with automated energy recovery equipment and further comprising using the automated energy recovery equipment for inserting and removing the container with automated equipment and operating the automated energy recovery equipment with the control device.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using automated connections and disconnects for the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising lowering an inlet device having a tubular section that is at least partially submerged into a body of water; and using a plurality of pumps located on a skid for moving the water through the tubular section on the inlet device to water purification equipment located on a plurality of skids.
11 . A water purification method comprising:
a. obtaining a reverse osmosis housing device for holding a plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the reverse osmosis housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, and wherein at least one connection is a fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid with the reverse osmosis housing device;
b. obtaining a plurality of energy recovery devices for recapturing pressure energy from water running through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and returning the pressure energy to move additional water through at least a portion of the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid;
c. automatically inserting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid into the at least one reverse osmosis housing device using an automated insertion device, wherein the membranes are connected to fluid and power connections that align and correspond to the reverse osmosis housing device;
d. using the energy recovery from the plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid to move water through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; and
e. removing brine from the water being moved through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; and
f. using a discharge device for discharging brine from the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid.
12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising
a. using an inlet device for obtaining the water;
b. using at least one pump for moving the water from the inlet device to at least one reverse osmosis housing device; and
c. using at least one filter for removing particles in the water.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising using automated connections and disconnects for the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising lowering an inlet device having a tubular section that is at least partially submerged into a body of water; and using a plurality of pumps located on a skid for moving the water through the tubular section on the inlet device to water purification equipment located on a plurality of skids.
15 . A method comprising:
a. obtaining a system comprising; an inlet device; at least one pump for moving water from the inlet device to water purification equipment; at least one filter to remove particles in the water; at least one reverse osmosis housing device for holding a plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the at least one reverse osmosis housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid, and wherein at least one connection is a fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid with the at least one reverse osmosis housing device; a plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid for recapturing pressure energy from water running through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes and returning the pressure energy to move additional water through at least a portion of the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes, at least one energy recovery housing device for holding the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the at least one energy recovery housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, and wherein at least one connection on the at least one energy recovery housing device that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid is a fluid line connecting the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid with the at least one energy recovery housing device; a discharge device for discharging the brine from the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes; a plurality of sensors; and a control device that is connected to the plurality of sensors and can the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes and the plurality of energy recovery devices in a coordinated manner;
b. automatically inserting the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid into the at least one reverse osmosis housing device using an automated insertion device, wherein the membranes are connected to fluid and power connections that align and correspond to the reverse osmosis housing device;
c. using energy from the plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid to move water through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid; and
d. removing brine from the water being moved through the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
a. using the inlet device for obtaining the water;
b. using the at least one pump for moving water from the inlet device to water purification equipment; and
c. using the at least one filter to remove particles in the water.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising removing the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid from the at least one energy recovery housing device.
18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising inserting the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid from the at least one energy recovery housing device.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid is a container with automated energy recovery equipment and further comprising using the automated energy recovery equipment for inserting and removing the container with automated equipment and operating the automated energy recovery equipment with the control device.
20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising using automated connections and disconnects for the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes on a skid and the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device.