Desalination systems and associated methods

A method for desalinating water, comprising:

• removing, within an ion-removal apparatus, at least a portion of at least one scale-forming ion from an aqueous feed stream comprising the scale-forming ion and at least one dissolved monovalent salt to produce an ion-diminished stream containing less of the scale-forming ion relative to the aqueous feed stream;
• removing, within a desalination apparatus, water from the ion-diminished stream to produce a concentrated saline stream enriched in the dissolved monovalent salt relative to the ion-diminished stream;
• and
• precipitating, within a precipitation apparatus, at least a portion of the dissolved monovalent salt from the concentrated saline stream to produce a product stream containing less of the dissolved monovalent salt relative to the concentrated saline stream.

A method for desalinating water, comprising:

• removing, within a desalination apparatus, water from an aqueous feed stream comprising at least one dissolved monovalent salt to produce a concentrated saline stream enriched in the dissolved monovalent salt relative to the aqueous feed stream;
• and
• precipitating, within a precipitation apparatus, at least a portion of the dissolved monovalent salt from the concentrated saline stream to produce a product stream containing less of the dissolved monovalent salt relative to the concentrated saline stream,
• wherein substantially no precipitation of the dissolved monovalent salt occurs within the desalination apparatus.

A water desalination system, comprising:

• an ion-removal apparatus configured to receive an aqueous feed stream comprising at least one scale-forming ion and at least one dissolved monovalent salt and to remove at least a portion of the at least one scale-forming ion to produce an ion-diminished stream containing less of the scale-forming ion relative to the feed stream;
• a desalination apparatus fluidically connected to the ion-removal apparatus and configured to remove water from the ion-diminished stream to produce a concentrated saline stream enriched in the dissolved monovalent salt relative to the ion-diminished stream;
• and
• a precipitation apparatus fluidically connected to the desalination apparatus and configured to precipitate at least a portion of the dissolved monovalent salt from the concentrated saline stream to produce a product stream containing less of the dissolved monovalent salt relative to the concentrated saline stream.