# US 2014/0197104 A1 · Apparatus and method for generating useful energy > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197104 A1 - Document ID: US20140197104A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/343,193 - Filed: 2012-08-23 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-07 - Assignees: Osmoblue Sarl - Inventors: Elodie DAHAN; Anna LAROMAINE SAGUÉ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197104A1 ## CPC - B01D 61/0022: {Apparatus therefor} - B01D 61/0023: {Accessories; Auxiliary operations} - B01D 61/005: {Osmotic agents; Draw solutions} - B01D 61/06: Energy recovery - C02F 1/445: {by forward osmosis} - F03G 7/015: {Actuators using the difference in osmotic pressure between fluids} - B01D 2311/10: Temperature control - B01D 2311/20: Power consumption - B01D 2311/25: Recirculation, recycling or bypass, e.g. recirculation of concentrate into the feed - B01D 2311/2642: Aggregation, sedimentation, flocculation, precipitation or coagulation - B01D 2313/246: Energy recovery means - C02F 2303/10: Energy recovery - 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) - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) ## Abstract An apparatus for generating useful energy includes a first chamber containing a draw solution which includes an osmotic agent and a second chamber containing a feed solution. A semi-permeable membrane allows the feed solution to move thereacross by osmosis, from the second chamber to the first chamber, to form a diluted draw solution. Pressurizing means apply a pressure to the diluted draw solution in the first chamber. Energy conversion means convert mechanical energy in the diluted draw solution, which is generated by osmotic movement of the feed solution across the semi-permeable membrane, into useful, electrical energy. The osmotic agent includes particles in the range of 0.5 nm-5 mm and the semi-permeable membrane has pores with diameters that are no larger than the diameter of the particles, thereby improving the amount of power or useful energy generated by the apparatus. There is further provided a corresponding method of generating power or useful energy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for useful energy, comprising: a first chamber which contains a draw solution which comprises an osmotic agent and a second chamber which contains a feed solution; a semi-permeable membrane which is arranged such that feed solution can move across the semi-permeable membrane by osmosis, from the second chamber to the first chamber, to form a diluted draw solution; a pressurising means, which is operable to apply a pressure to the diluted draw solution in the first chamber; an energy conversion means, which is configured such that it can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, wherein the energy conversion means is arranged such that it can convert mechanical energy in the diluted draw solution, which is generated due to the movement of the feed solution from the second chamber to the first chamber across the semi-permeable membrane by osmosis, into useful energy, wherein the osmotic agent comprises particles with a diameter (d) in the range 0.5 nm-5 mm and wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises pores which have a diameter which are at most equal to the diameter of the particles of the osmotic agent, so as to improve the amount of power or useful energy which can be generated by the apparatus, wherein the particles comprise thermoresponsive material which causes the osmotic agent to aggregate in the draw solution or diluted draw solution at a predefined temperature, to facilitate recovery of the osmotic agent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises pores which have a diameter between 0.25 nm-2.5 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises pores which have a diameter of 10 nm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the osmotic agent comprises particles which have a diameter within the range 1 nm-1 μm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the osmotic agent comprises particles which have a diameter of 20 nm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the particles of the osmotic agent are porous, so as to increase the surface area of the particles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the particles of the osmotic agent comprise a surface coating to increase their affinity with a solvent of the draw solution. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the surface coating comprises a hydrophilic material. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising one or more reservoirs to store a draw solution destined for the first chamber and to store feed solution destined for the second chamber. ### Claim 11 A method of generating power comprising the steps of: providing a first chamber with a draw solution which comprises an osmotic agent wherein the osmotic agent comprises particles in the range 0.5 nm-5 mm; pressurising the draw solution in the first chamber; providing a second chamber with a feed solution; moving the feed solution from the second chamber to the first chamber, across a semi-permeable membrane, by osmosis, to form a diluted draw solution, wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises pores which have a diameter which are at most equal to the diameter of the particles of the osmotic agent; converting mechanical energy in the diluted draw solution, which is generated due to the movement of the feed solution from the second chamber to the first chamber across the semi-permeable membrane by osmosis, into electrical energy, wherein the method further comprises the step of adjusting the temperature of the draw solution or diluted draw solution to cause aggregation of the osmotic agent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 wherein the step of providing first chamber with a draw solution which comprises an osmotic agent, comprises providing the first chamber with a draw solution which comprises an osmotic agent which comprises particles which have a diameter of 20 nm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises pores which have a diameter of 10 nm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 wherein the step of pressurising the draw solution in the first chamber comprises, pressurising the draw solution in the first chamber with a pressure which is less than an osmotic pressure provided by the osmotic agent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of recovering at least some of the osmotic agent from the diluted draw solution.