SYMBIOTIC REVERSE OSMOSIS FOR MAXIMIZING DESALINATED WATER RECOVERY FROM SALINE WATERS AND BRINES

摘要

The present application comprises symbiotic reverse osmosis train system for maximizing desalinated water recovery, meanwhile yielding high salinity brine suitable for osmotic power generation or commercial salt production; trains comprise series of number of cells operating in interrelated sequential pattern within a salinity field. Each cell forms a closed hydraulic brine loop having pumping means, power recovery means and shared semipermeable membranes between adjacent cells, defining the boundaries of flow path within a given cell, using applicant's technology for semipermeable Flat Sheet Membranes [FSM] or Hollow Fiber Membranes [HFM] intended for new and novel development in Hypersalinity processes and applications in desalination and osmotic power generation of brackish, seawater and brines of 15% salinity or more. Charging each cell in the train of plurality of cells with a formulated brine having a specified ionizable inorganic salt concentration and type, without permitting mixing of the given brines among the adjacent cells in the plurality of cells, allowing the train of multiple cells to achieve water recovery exceeding 85% with concentrated rejected brine of 28-30% salt content that is recoverable by evaporation/crystallization for commercial use. Highlighting, the first of its kind, a large scale Seashore Tower of flat Sheet membrane [FSM] for Induced Osmotic Desalination Plant of a capacity 28-56 million cubic meter per year (15 billion gallons per year) at a recovery rate of 85%, and rejected brine salinity of 28-30%, either used for sodium chloride salt recovery of 1-2 million metric tons per year, or to generate Induced Osmotic Power of 25-50 MW.