# US 10,479,706 B2 · Apparatus, method and system for desalinating water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,706 B2 - Document ID: US10479706B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/614,603 - Filed: 2017-06-05 - Published: 2017-12-07 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-03 - Assignees: Katz Water Tech, LLC - Applicants: Gary P. Katz - Inventors: Gary P. Katz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479706B2 ## CPC - C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis} - B01D 61/026: {comprising multiple reverse osmosis steps} - B01D 61/06: Energy recovery - B01D 63/06: Tubular membrane modules - C02F 1/004: {using large scale industrial sized filters} - C02F 1/444: {by ultrafiltration or microfiltration} - E21B 15/02: specially adapted for underwater drilling (E21B15/04 takes precedence) - E21B 43/20: Displacing by water - B01D 2311/04: Specific process operations in the feed stream; Feed pretreatment - B01D 2311/2649: Filtration - B01D 2313/246: Energy recovery means - B01D 2317/04: Elements in parallel - C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination - C02F 2201/008: Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle - C02F 2303/10: Energy recovery - Y02A 20/131: Reverse-osmosis - Y02A 20/152: Water filtration - Y02W 10/30: Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies - 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) - 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) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract An apparatus, system and method to purify water is disclosed. In addition, the apparatus, system and method can effectively discharge the brine effluent. The apparatus can comprise an offshore structure, wherein the offshore structure comprises a water intake device connected to a pre-desalination filters connected to a plurality of reverse osmosis filters in communication with a purified water line and effluent discharge device. A plurality of filters for filtering the water from the intake, filter the water to remove solid contaminates before running the filtered water through the reverse osmosis system to the discharge device and purified water lines. Herein also disclosed is a wastewater discharge system. In an embodiment, the system comprises a control panel that controls, the offshore structure plurality of filters, plurality of reverse osmosis filters, purified water line and effluent discharge device, to achieve favorable water purification. Herein also described is a method that utilizes the apparatus and/or system disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the method comprises: obtaining an offshore structure comprising a water purification system, flowing water into an inlet device, pumping the water through a filtration system, flowing the filtered water through a plurality of reverse osmosis filters; flowing purified water through a purified water line; and flowing discharge effluent through a discharge device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An offshore water purification apparatus comprising: a. an inlet device having a tubular section that is at least partially submerged into a body of water, the inlet device has at least one filter to prevent any objects larger than 10 millimeters from flowing inside the tubular section; b. 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; c. a plurality of filters located on a skid that is connected to the inlet device, the plurality of filters are connected to the inlet device to selectively filter particles in the water; d. a plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid for separating contaminates from the water; e. a plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid for recapturing pressure energy from water running through the reverse osmosis system and returning the pressure energy to move additional water through at least a portion of the plurality of skids, 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 housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, and wherein at least one connection on the housing 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 energy recovery housing device; f. at least one reverse osmosis housing device for holding the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the reverse osmosis housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid, and wherein at least one connection is a fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid with the reverse osmosis housing device; and g. a discharge device for discharging the brine from the plurality of reverse osmosis filters into the body of water and mixes the discharge brine with water from the body of water prior to discharge into the body of water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth of the inlet device can be selectively controlled to achieve favorable operating conditions based on the inlet water properties. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device include at least one inlet fluid line suitable for pressurized water and at least one outlet fluid line and at least one power connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors comprising at least one sensor connected to the inlet device, at least one sensor connected to the plurality of filters, at least one sensor connected to the plurality of reverse osmosis filters, and at least one sensor connected to the plurality of energy recovery devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a control device that is connected to the plurality of sensors and can operate the plurality of filters, the plurality of reverse osmosis filters, and the plurality of energy recovery devices in a coordinated manner. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising automated connections and disconnects for the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid and the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid is a container with automated equipment and further comprising an automated device for inserting and removing the container with automated equipment, and wherein the automated device is operated by the control device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one pump housing device for holding the plurality of pumps on a skid, wherein the plurality of pumps on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of pumps on a skid, and wherein at least one connection on the housing that align and correspond to the connections on the plurality of pumps on a skid is a fluid line connecting the plurality of pumps on a skid with the at least one pump housing device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one filter housing device for holding the plurality of filters on a skid, wherein the plurality of filters on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of filters on a skid, and wherein at least one connection on the housing that align and correspond to the connections on the plurality of filters on a skid is a fluid line connecting the plurality of filters on a skid with the filter housing device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising finishing equipment to add minerals to the water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one pump housing device for holding the plurality of pumps on a skid, wherein the plurality of pumps on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of pumps on a skid; at least one filter housing device for holding the plurality of filters on a skid, wherein the plurality of filters on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of filters on a skid; and wherein the fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid with the reverse osmosis housing device further connects with the energy recovery housing device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising fluid line connections connecting the pump housing device to the filter device, connections connecting the filter housing device to the reverse osmosis housing device and connections connecting the pump housing device to the energy recovery housing device. ### Claim 13 A system comprising: a. an inlet device having a tubular section that is at least partially in water; b. 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; c. a plurality of filters located on a skid that is connected to the inlet device, the plurality of filters are connected to the inlet device to selectively filter particles in the water; d. a plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid for separating contaminates from the water; e. a plurality of energy recovery devices located on a skid for recapturing pressure energy from water running through the reverse osmosis system and returning the pressure energy to move additional water through at least a portion of the plurality of skids, 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 housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of energy recovery devices on a skid, and wherein at least one connection on the housing 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 energy recovery housing device; f. at least one reverse osmosis housing device for holding the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the reverse osmosis housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid, and wherein at least one connection is a fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid with the reverse osmosis housing device; g. a discharge device for discharging the brine from the plurality of reverse osmosis; h. a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors comprising at least one sensor connected to the inlet device, at least one sensor connected to the plurality of filters, at least one sensor connected to the plurality of reverse osmosis filters, and at least one sensor connected to the plurality of energy recovery devices; and i. a control device that is connected to the plurality of sensors and can operate the plurality of filters, the plurality of reverse osmosis filters, the plurality of energy recovery devices in a coordinated manner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device include at least one inlet fluid line suitable for pressurized water and at least one outlet fluid line and at least one power connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising automated connections and disconnects for the connections on the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid and the connections on the reverse osmosis housing device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid is a container with automated equipment and further comprising an automated device for inserting and removing the container with automated equipment, wherein the automated device is operated by the control device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one pump housing device for holding the plurality of pumps on a skid, wherein the plurality of pumps on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of pumps on a skid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one filter housing device for holding the plurality of filters on a skid, wherein the plurality of filters on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of filters on a skid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the fluid line connecting the plurality of reverse osmosis filters on a skid with the reverse osmosis housing device further connects with the energy recovery housing device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising: at least one pump housing device for holding the plurality of pumps on a skid, wherein the plurality of pumps on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of pumps on a skid; at least one filter housing device for holding the plurality of filters on a skid, wherein the plurality of filters on a skid can be removed and inserted and attached to connections on the housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of filters on a skid, and wherein at least one connection on the housing that align and correspond to connections on the plurality of filters on a skid is a fluid line connecting the plurality of filters on a skid with the filter housing device; and connections connecting the pump housing device to the filter device, the filter housing device to the reverse osmosis housing device and the pump housing device to the energy recovery housing device.