A pressure retarded osmosis system (1) includes a membrane unit (2) having a high-pressure inlet connection (3) and a high-pressure outlet connection (4) on one side of a membrane arrangement (5) and a low-pressure inlet connection (6) and a low-pressure outlet connection (7) on the other side of the membrane arrangement (5). Such a pressure retarded osmosis system should be operated at a pressure higher than 140 bar. To this end the high-pressure inlet connection (3) is connected to a pressure exchanger (9), and the high-pressure outlet connection (4) is connected to a motor (20) and to a high-pressure inlet port (12) of the pressure exchanger (9), characterized in that the pressure exchanger (9) includes at least a first stage (10) and a second stage (11), the first stage (10) being arranged nearest to the high-pressure inlet connection (3) of the membrane unit (2), wherein the high-pressure inlet port (12) of the first stage (10) is connected to the high-pressure outlet connection (4) of the membrane unit (2) and a high-pressure inlet port (16) of the second stage (11) is provided with fluid having a lower pressure and a high-pressure outlet port (17) of the second stage (11) is connected to a low-pressure inlet port (14) of the first stage (10).
An osmosis module for pressure retarded osmosis comprising a pressure vessel having a first draw port and a second draw port. The first draw port is provided in a first end-face of the pressure vessel and is in fluid communication with a central structure. A plurality of hollow fibre semipermeable membranes are received within a fibre region of the osmosis module, and are provided around the central structure. In a first lengthwise region of the osmosis module, the draw stream flow between the first draw port and the fibre region via the central structure. In a second lengthwise region of the osmosis module, the flow path which the draw stream flows between the draw ports, is confined to the fibre region and extends substantially parallel to the central structure. The second region extends along a majority of the length of the fibre region.
B01D 61/00 - Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltrationApparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
F03G 7/00 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
An osmotic process comprising for a first period, passing a draw stream and a feed stream through an osmotic unit having a semi-permeable membrane, permitting the passage of water but not salts. The feed stream is an aqueous stream with a lower salinity than the draw stream. The feed stream has a scalant with a concentration above saturation in a region on a feed side of the semi-permeable membrane. The draw stream passes over a draw side of the membrane and the feed stream passes over the feed side so water passes across the membrane from the feed stream to the draw stream. For a second time period, the flow rate of the draw stream is lower than the flow rate in the first time period, and the feed stream passes over the feed side such that the concentration of the scalant in said region is reduced.
B01D 65/08 - Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
B01D 61/00 - Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltrationApparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
An osmotic process is disclosed. The process comprises passing a draw stream (12) and a feed stream (2), the feed stream (2) being an aqueous stream of lower salinity than said draw stream (12), through an osmotic unit (8) in which water but not salts pass from the feed stream (2) to the draw stream (12). The process further comprises passing the feed stream through an ion exchange unit (4a, 4b) in which an ion exchange process is used to treat the feed stream (2) before the feed stream (2) passes through the osmotic unit (8) and using the draw stream (12) in said ion exchange process before or after the draw stream (12) passes through the osmotic unit (8). A power generation process and an electricity generation process based on the osmotic process is also described, along with a system for carrying out the osmotic process.
B01D 61/00 - Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltrationApparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
C02F 1/42 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by ion-exchange
C02F 1/44 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
C02F 1/469 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrochemical separation, e.g. by electro-osmosis, electrodialysis, electrophoresis
A brine saturation process is disclosed. The process comprises increasing the salinity of an unsaturated saline stream (15) by passage through a brine saturator (5) in which salt is dissolved into the unsaturated saline stream (15) to produce a high salinity stream (11); and then converting latent osmotic energy present in said high salinity stream (11) into power by passage through an osmotic power unit (20). The process further comprises using an output stream derived from the high salinity stream (11) following passage through the osmotic power unit (12) as the unsaturated saline stream (15).
A process for solution mining of minerals is disclosed. The process comprises injecting an unsaturated stream (150) at an injection pressure into a mineral formation (130) to dissolve the mineral and extracting a high concentration stream (110) containing said dissolved mineral. The process comprising converting latent osmotic energy present in said high concentration stream into an increase in the total pressure of said stream by passage through an osmotic power unit (200) and generating electricity and reducing to the injection pressure the total pressure of a reduced concentration output stream (150) by passage through a power generating device (250) and using the reduced concentration output stream (150) at the injection pressure as the unsaturated stream (150). A process for storing a fuel in an underground formation is also disclosed.
B01D 61/00 - Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltrationApparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
B65G 5/00 - Storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth
E21B 43/28 - Dissolving minerals other than hydrocarbons, e.g. by an alkaline or acid leaching agent
F03G 7/00 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
A power generation process is disclosed, the process comprises dissolving a solute (10) into an unsaturated stream (140) to produce a high concentration stream (130) and converting latent mixing energy present in a high concentration input stream (130) into power by passage through a power unit (20) in which the concentration of the high concentration input stream (130) is reduced. The process comprises using a reduced concentration output stream (140) derived from the high concentration input stream (130) following passage through the power unit (20) as the unsaturated stream (140). A first fraction of the high concentration stream (130) is passed to the power unit (20) for use as the high concentration input stream (130) and a second fraction of the high concentration stream (130) is output from the process.
F03G 7/04 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature
An osmotic process is disclosed, the process comprising for a first time period, passing a draw stream (2) and a feed stream (14) through an osmotic unit (6). The feed stream (14) is an aqueous stream of lower salinity than the draw stream (2) and comprises at least one scalant. The osmotic unit (6) comprises a semi-permeable membrane (8) which permits the passage of water but not the passage of salts. The draw stream (2) passes over a draw side (10) of the membrane (8) and the feed stream (14) passes over a feed side (12) of the membrane (8) so water passes across the membrane (8) from the feed stream (14) to the draw stream (2). During said first time period, the concentration of a scalant in the feed stream is above saturation in a region (26) on the feed side (12). Then, for a second time period, the flow rate of the draw stream (2) to the draw side (10) of the membrane (8) is lower than the flow rate at which the draw stream (2) is provided to the draw side (10) in the first time period and the feed stream (14) passes over the feed side (12) such that the concentration of the scalant in said region (26) is reduced. An osmotic system configured to carry out the process is also disclosed.
B01D 61/00 - Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltrationApparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
An osmosis module (100) for pressure retarded osmosis. The osmosis module (100) comprises a pressure vessel (102) having a first draw port (130) and a second draw port (132). The first draw port (130) is provided in a first end-face (104) of the pressure vessel (102) and is in fluid communication with a central structure (e.g. a pipe) (116). A plurality of hollow fibre semipermeable membranes (114) are received within a fibre region (115) of the osmosis module (100), and are provided around the central structure (116). In a first lengthwise region (160) of the osmosis module (100), the draw stream can flow between the first draw port (130) and the fibre region (115) via the central structure (116). In a second lengthwise region (162) of the osmosis module (100), the flow path, via which the draw stream flows between the draw ports (130, 132), is confined to the fibre region (115) and extends substantially parallel to the central structure (116). The second region (162) extends along a majority of the length of the fibre region (115). The disclosure also provides a method of modifying an osmosis module comprising a step of blocking a central structure of the osmosis module.
B01D 61/00 - Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltrationApparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
An osmotic process is disclosed. The process comprises passing a draw stream (12) and a feed stream (2), the feed stream (2) being an aqueous stream of lower salinity than said draw stream (12), through an osmotic unit (8) in which water but not salts pass from the feed stream (2) to the draw stream (12). The process further comprises passing the feed stream through an ion exchange unit (4a, 4b) in which an ion exchange process is used to treat the feed stream (2) before the feed stream (2) passes through the osmotic unit (8) and using the draw stream (12) in said ion exchange process before or after the draw stream (12) passes through the osmotic unit (8). A power generation process and an electricity generation process based on the osmotic process is also described, along with a system for carrying out the osmotic process.
F03G 7/00 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
B01D 61/00 - Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltrationApparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
C02F 1/42 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by ion-exchange
C02F 1/44 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
C02F 1/469 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrochemical separation, e.g. by electro-osmosis, electrodialysis, electrophoresis
A brine saturation process is disclosed. The process comprises increasing the salinity of an unsaturated saline stream (15) by passage through a brine saturator (5) in which salt is dissolved into the unsaturated saline stream (15) to produce a high salinity stream (11); and then converting latent osmotic energy present in said high salinity stream (11) into power by passage through an osmotic power unit (20). The process further comprises using an output stream derived from the high salinity stream (11) following passage through the osmotic power unit (12) as the unsaturated saline stream (15).
A process for solution mining of minerals is disclosed. The process comprises injecting an unsaturated stream (150) at an injection pressure into a mineral formation (130) to dissolve the mineral and extracting a high concentration stream (110) containing said dissolved mineral. The process comprising converting latent osmotic energy present in said high concentration stream into an increase in the total pressure of said stream by passage through an osmotic power unit (200) and generating electricity and reducing to the injection pressure the total pressure of a reduced concentration output stream (150) by passage through a power generating device (250) and using the reduced concentration output stream (150) at the injection pressure as the unsaturated stream (150). A process for storing a fuel in an underground formation is also disclosed.
F03G 7/00 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
B01D 61/00 - Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltrationApparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
F03G 7/04 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature
F24T 10/20 - Geothermal collectors using underground water as working fluidGeothermal collectors using working fluid injected directly into the ground, e.g. using injection wells and recovery wells
A power generation process is disclosed, the process comprises dissolving a solute (10) into an unsaturated stream (140) to produce a high concentration stream (130) and converting latent mixing energy present in a high concentration input stream (130) into power by passage through a power unit (20) in which the concentration of the high concentration input stream (130) is reduced. The process comprises using a reduced concentration output stream (140) derived from the high concentration input stream (130) following passage through the power unit (20) as the unsaturated stream (140). A first fraction of the high concentration stream (130) is passed to the power unit (20) for use as the high concentration input stream (130) and a second fraction of the high concentration stream (130) is output from the process.
F03G 7/00 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
B01D 61/00 - Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltrationApparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
F03G 7/04 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature
F24T 10/20 - Geothermal collectors using underground water as working fluidGeothermal collectors using working fluid injected directly into the ground, e.g. using injection wells and recovery wells
patents
