# US 2018/0021733 A2 · Method and apparatus for effecting high recovery desalination with pressure driven membranes

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- Number: US 2018/0021733 A2
- Document ID: US20180021733A2
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A2
- Application number: 14/394,519
- Filed: 2013-04-15
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-15
- Assignees: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Research and Development Authority; Mekorot Water Company, Ltd
- Applicants: Ben Gurion University of the Negev Research and Development Authority; Mekorot Water Company Ltd.
- Inventors: Jack GILRON; Dan PELED; Yevgeny GOLDKINE; Sivan BLEICH
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021733A2

## CPC

- B01D 65/02: Membrane cleaning or sterilisation {; Membrane regeneration}
- B01D 61/12: Controlling or regulating
- B01D 63/00: Apparatus in general for separation processes using semi-permeable membranes
- B01D 65/027: {Cleaning of other parts of the apparatus than the membrane}
- B01D 65/08: Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
- C02F 1/44: by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis {(general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268)}
- C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis}
- C02F 1/442: {by nanofiltration}
- B01D 2313/48: Mechanisms for switching between regular separation operations and washing
- B01D 2317/027: Christmas tree arrangements
- B01D 2317/04: Elements in parallel
- B01D 2321/40: Automatic control of cleaning processes
- C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F}
- C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination
- C02F 2209/03: Pressure
- C02F 2303/22: Eliminating or preventing deposits, scale removal, scale prevention (C02F1/042, C02F1/4602, C02F5/00 take precedence)
- Y02A 20/131: Reverse-osmosis
- 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 system and method for switching between flows of water solutions passed in groups of blocks of membrane pressure vessels arranged in parallel in a tapered flow system, wherein the system comprises a system inlet feed line, a system outlet flow line, high pressure booster pumps configured to provide a high pressure feed stream to the system; blocks of membrane pressure vessels arrayed in parallel, and a first and second bypass line each parallel to said blocks.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tapered flow desalination system comprising:
a system inlet feed line coupled to a first high pressure booster pump configured to provide a high pressure feed stream to the system;
blocks of membrane pressure vessels arrayed in parallel, wherein the outlet of said first booster pump is coupled by means of flow lines to said blocks at first opening sides of said blocks;
a second booster pump, coupled at its inlet by a first bypass line parallel to said blocks, to said first booster pump outlet, wherein said second booster pump outlet and inlet are also coupled by means of flow lines to said blocks at second opening sides of said blocks and wherein said first bypass line is also coupled by means of flow lines to said blocks at said second opening sides of said blocks;
a system outlet flow line coupled to said first opening sides of said blocks, coupled to said second opening sides of said blocks and to the second booster pump outlet, wherein said system outlet flow line is coupled to said second opening sides of said blocks and to said second booster pump outlet by means of a second bypass line;
wherein the first bypass line comprises a valve and wherein the second bypass line comprises a valve;
wherein at least two of the lines coupling between said first booster pump outlet and said first opening sides of said blocks each comprise a valve;
wherein at least two of the lines coupling between said second booster pump outlet and said second opening sides of said blocks each comprise a valve;
wherein at least two of the lines coupling between said second opening sides of said blocks and said second booster pump inlet each comprise a valve; and
wherein at least two of the lines coupling between said first opening sides of said blocks and said system outlet flow line each comprise a valve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1 wherein said system comprises three blocks, and
wherein the lines coupling between said first booster pump and said first opening sides of said blocks each comprise a valve;
wherein the lines coupling between said second booster pump and said second opening sides of said blocks each comprise a valve;
wherein the lines coupling between said second opening sides of said blocks and said first bypass line each comprise a valve; and
wherein the lines coupling between said first opening sides of said blocks and said system outlet flow line each comprise a valve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises one or more control elements selected from the group of additional valves, check valves and sensors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein each pressure vessel block is coupled to a permeate product line.

### Claim 5

A method for switching between flows of water solutions passed in groups of blocks of membrane pressure vessels arranged in parallel in a tapered flow system, wherein said method comprising the steps of:
A) passing feed water solution through one or more of said system blocks in a first stage and the concentrated water solution exiting said blocks of the first stage is passed through one or more of the system blocks in a second stage and the concentrated water solution exiting the blocks of the second stage is passed through a system concentrate outlet;
B) slowing the stream(s) passed in said second stage by bypassing a portion of the concentrated water solution exiting the blocks of the first stage to the system concentrate outlet;
C) stopping the slowed stream(s) of a first group of blocks being of one or more of the blocks of the second stage;
D) slowing the stream(s) passed in the first stage by bypassing a portion of said feed water solution, to the system concentrate outlet;
E) stopping the slowed stream(s) of a second group of blocks being of one or more of the blocks of the first stage, wherein said second group of blocks comprise the same number of blocks as in said first group of blocks; and passing a portion of the feed water solution through said first group of blocks;
F) stopping the bypassing of step D and passing a portion of the concentrated water solution exiting the blocks of the first stage through said second group of bocks;
G) stopping the bypassing of step B.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method according to claim 5, wherein the number of blocks in the first group of blocks is 1.

### Claim 7

A tapered flow desalination system comprising:
a system inlet feed line coupled to a first high pressure booster pump configured to provide a high pressure feed stream to the system;
a first group of blocks of membrane pressure vessels arrayed in parallel, wherein the outlet of said first booster pump is coupled by means of flow lines to said first group of blocks at first opening sides of said first group of blocks;
a second booster pump, coupled at its inlet by means of flow lines to said first group of blocks at second opening sides of the first group of blocks; and
coupled at its outlet to a second group of blocks of membrane pressure vessels arrayed in parallel at first opening sides of the second group of blocks;
a third booster pump, coupled by means of flow lines to said second group of blocks at second opening sides of the second group of blocks; and coupled by means of flow lines to said first group of blocks at said second opening sides of said first group of blocks;
a system outlet flow line coupled by flow lines to said first opening sides of said first group of blocks, coupled to said second opening sides of said first group of blocks and to the third booster pump, wherein said system outlet flow line is coupled to said second opening sides of said first group of blocks and to said third booster pump by means of a bypass line;
wherein the bypass line comprises a valve;
wherein at least two of the lines coupling between said first booster pump and said first opening sides of said first group of blocks each comprise a valve;
wherein at least two of the lines coupling between said second booster pump and said second opening sides of said first group of blocks each comprise a valve;
wherein at least two of the lines coupling between said third booster pump and said second opening sides of said first group of blocks each comprise a valve;
wherein at least two of the lines coupling between said first opening sides of said first group of blocks and said system outlet flow line each comprise a valve.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7 wherein the first group of blocks comprise at least 4 blocks and the second group of blocks comprise, at most, two less blocks than the first group.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7, wherein the system comprises one or more of the control elements selected from the group of additional valves, check valves and sensors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7, wherein each pressure vessel block is coupled to a permeate product line.

### Claim 11

A method for switching between flows of water solutions passed in groups of blocks of membrane pressure vessels arranged in parallel in a tapered flow system, wherein said method comprising the steps of:
A) passing feed water solution through one or more of said system blocks in a first stage and the concentrated water solution exiting said blocks of the first stage is passed through one or more blocks in a second stage and the concentrated water solution exiting the blocks of the second stage is passed through one or more blocks in a third stage and the concentrated water solution exiting the blocks of the third stage is passed through a system concentrate outlet;
B) slowing the stream(s) passed in said third stage by bypassing a portion of the concentrated water solution exiting the blocks of the second stage to the system concentrated outlet;
C) stopping the slowed stream(s) of a first group of blocks being of one or more of the blocks of the third stage;
D) stopping the stream(s) of a second group of blocks being of one or more of the blocks of the first stage, wherein said second group of blocks comprise the same number of blocks as in said first group of blocks; and passing a portion of the feed water solution through said first group of blocks;
E) passing a portion of the concentrated water solution exiting the blocks of the second stage through said second group of blocks;
F) stopping the bypassing of step B.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A method according to claim 11, wherein the initial number of blocks in the third stage is at most, one less than , the number of blocks in the second stage and the number of blocks in the second stage is at most, one less than the number of blocks in the first stage.

### Claim 13

A flushing loop system for periodically flushing a concentrate removal line with undersaturated solution comprising:
a flushing undersaturated solution feed tank coupled to a recycle line ending back at said feed tank;
wherein said recycle line comprises a recirculation pump configured to drive said undersaturated solution from said feed tank and back to said feed tank;
wherein a portion said recycle line is connected in parallel with said concentrate removal line.

### Claim 14

A flushing loop system for periodically flushing a concentrate removal line with undersaturated solution comprising:
a flushing undersaturated solution feed tank coupled to a recirculation pump by a flow line;
wherein a first portion of the concentrate removal line is coupled to a third portion of the concentrate removal line by two parallel flow lines, one being a second portion of the concentrate removal line and the other being a flush removal line;
wherein said recirculation pump is coupled to the second portion of the concentrate removal line by two parallel flow lines; and wherein said feed tank is coupled to the second portion of the concentrate removal line by two parallel flow lines.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The flushing loop system according to claim 14, wherein
said recirculation pump is coupled to a first three-way valve by a flow line;
wherein said first three way valve is coupled to a second three way valve by a flow line and to the second portion of the concentrate removal line by a flow line;
wherein said second three way valve is also coupled to said second portion of the concentrate removal line;
wherein said second portion of the concentrate removal line is also coupled to a third three way valve and to a fourth three way valve; wherein said third three way valve is also coupled to said fourth three way valve by a flow line;
wherein said flushing removal line is coupled to said first three way valve, said second three way valve, said third three way valve and said fourth three way valve;
wherein said fourth three way valve is coupled to the feed tank;
wherein said third three way valve is coupled to the first portion of the concentrate removal line;
wherein the second three way valve is coupled to the system third portion of the concentrate removal line; and
wherein said portion of the concentrate removal line and said flushing removal line each comprise a two way valve.

### Claim 16

A method for flushing a portion of a concentrate removal line, comprising:
A) passing a concentrated solution through a portion of a concentrate removal line;
B) redirecting the concentrated solution and passing it through a flow line parallel to said portion of the concentrate removal line; and passing a flow of undersaturated solution through said portion of the concentrate removal line;
C) stopping the passing of the undersaturated solution; and redirecting the concentrated solution and passing it back through said portion of the concentrate removal line;
D) periodically repeating steps B-C.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, wherein:
step A further comprises passing an undersaturated solution through the flow line parallel to the portion of the concentrate removal line;
and wherein step B further comprises redirecting the undersaturated flow of step A and passing it through the portion of the concentrate removal line;
and wherein step C further comprises redirecting the undersaturated flow of step B and passing it back to the flow line parallel to the portion of the concentrate removal line.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A flushing loop system for periodically flushing a concentrate removal line with undersaturated solution comprising:
a flushing undersaturated solution feed tank coupled to a recirculation pump by a flow line;
wherein a first portion of the concentrate removal line is coupled to a third portion of the concentrate removal line by two parallel flow lines, one being a second portion of the concentrate removal line and the other being a flush removal line;
wherein said recirculation pump is coupled to the second portion of the concentrate removal line by two parallel flow lines; and wherein said feed tank is coupled to the second portion of the concentrate removal line by two parallel flow lines,
wherein said first portion of the concentrate removal line is the system outlet flow line of a tapered flow desalination system in accordance with claim 1.

### Claim 19 (depends on 7)

A flushing loop system for periodically flushing a concentrate removal line with undersaturated solution comprising:
a flushing undersaturated solution feed tank coupled to a recirculation pump by a flow line;
wherein a first portion of the concentrate removal line is coupled to a third portion of the concentrate removal line by two parallel flow lines, one being a second portion of the concentrate removal line and the other being a flush removal line;
wherein said recirculation pump is coupled to the second portion of the concentrate removal line by two parallel flow lines; and wherein said feed tank is coupled to the second portion of the concentrate removal line by two parallel flow lines,
wherein said first portion of the concentrate removal line is the system outlet flow line of a tapered flow desalination system in accordance with claim 7.