Liquid treatment apparatus

A method of operating a liquid treatment apparatus comprising a separation structure with a membrane, an inlet for receiving an inlet liquid, a first outlet for delivering a first liquid which has not passed through the membrane, and a second outlet for delivering a second liquid which has passed through the membrane, the treatment apparatus further comprising a displacement pump adapted to supply an amount of inlet liquid to the separation structure proportional to the rotation of a pump element, and a pressure recovery unit adapted to drain an amount of first liquid from the separation structure proportional to the rotation of a recovery element, the method comprising driving the pump element and the recovery element synchronously at different speeds depending on the consumption of a liquid which is received from the separation structure.

A method of operating a liquid treatment apparatus comprising a separation structure with a membrane, an inlet for receiving an inlet liquid, a first outlet for delivering a first liquid which has not passed through the membrane, and a second outlet for delivering a second liquid which has passed through the membrane, the treatment apparatus further comprising a displacement pump adapted to supply an amount of inlet liquid to the separation structure proportional to the rotation of a pump element, and a pressure recovery unit adapted to drain an amount of first liquid from the separation structure proportional to the rotation of a recovery element, the method comprising driving the pump element and the recovery element synchronously at different speeds depending on a pressure measured in the separation structure.

A method of operating a liquid treatment apparatus comprising a separation structure with a membrane, an inlet for receiving an inlet liquid, a first outlet for delivering a first liquid which has not passed through the membrane, and a second outlet for delivering a second liquid which has passed through the membrane, the treatment apparatus further comprising a displacement pump adapted to supply an amount of inlet liquid to the separation structure proportional to the rotation of a pump element, and a pressure recovery unit adapted to drain an amount of first liquid from the separation structure proportional to the rotation of a recovery element, the method comprising adjusting a pressure gradient in the separation structure by adjusting an acceleration of a synchronous rotation of the pump element and the recovery element.

A method of operating an osmosis apparatus in an inverse mode comprising an osmosis structure with a reverse osmosis membrane, an inlet adapted during normal operation to receive saltwater, a first outlet for delivering a brine which has not passed through the membrane, and a second outlet for delivering freshwater which has passed through the membrane, the treatment apparatus further comprising a displacement pump adapted to supply an amount of the saltwater to the reverse osmosis structure proportional to the rotation of a pump element, and a pressure recovery unit adapted to drain an amount of the brine from the reverse osmosis structure proportional to the rotation of a recovery element, the method comprising applying freshwater to the inlet and driving the pump element and the recovery element synchronously at a speed which is lower than a speed which is necessary for activating permeation of saltwater through the membrane.