# US 10,441,919 B2 · Deep ocean desalination system and methods of using same to produce potable water

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,441,919 B2
- Document ID: US10441919B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/203,803
- Filed: 2014-03-11
- Published: 2014-09-18
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-13
- Applicants: Stephen K. Oney
- Inventors: Stephen K. Oney
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441919B2

## CPC

- B01D 61/025: {Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration}
- B01D 61/10: Accessories; Auxiliary operations
- C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis}
- B01D 2313/243: Pumps
- B01D 2313/901: Integrated prefilter
- C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination
- C02F 2201/008: Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle
- C02F 2201/009: Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells
- Y02A 20/131: Reverse-osmosis
- Y02A 20/211: Solar-powered water purification
- Y02A 20/212: Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

A deep ocean desalination system that uses hydrostatic pressure to reverse osmosis the seawater. The membrane structure is deployed to a predetermined ocean depth and includes a submersible pump system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A desalination system capable of producing fresh water from sea water extracted from a predetermined depth below the ocean surface comprising:
a reverse osmosis system comprising:
a membrane-enclosed container having a polyhedron shape following a Hoberman Sphere, wherein all of the faces of the polyhedron shape are the same shape and size and each face of the polyhedron shape is encompassed by a semi-permeable membrane, wherein the membrane-enclosed container has an exterior surface area and an internal cavity; and
a submersible pump operatively connected to a riser, wherein, once deployed to the predetermined depth, the internal cavity has a first pressure at or near atmospheric pressure and the sea water surrounding the membrane-enclosed container has a second pressure different from the first pressure thus creating a pressure differential that draws fresh water into the internal cavity through each face of the membrane-enclosed container while restricting dissolved solids and salts in the sea water from passing through each face of the membrane-enclosed container, and the pump delivers the fresh water to the riser,
wherein the riser is operatively connected to a power supply above the ocean surface, wherein the riser deploys the reverse osmosis system to the predetermined depth, wherein the predetermined depth is between about 350 meters and 750 meters, and wherein the pump is operatively connected to the power supply via its operative connection to the riser; and
a pipe operatively connected to the riser to deliver the fresh water received from the riser to a intended destination;
at least one buoy attached to the membrane-enclosed container; and
a mooring system connected to the membrane-enclosed container to maintain the reverse osmosis system at the predetermined depth after deployment.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The desalination system of claim 1, wherein the intended destination is shore.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The desalination system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined depth is at least about 400 meters.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The desalination system of claim 1, wherein the riser is flexible.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The desalination system of claim 1, wherein the membrane structure is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, concrete, plastic, fiber, and combinations thereof.