Modular apparatus for a saltwater desalinating system, and method for using same

An apparatus for a saltwater desalinating system, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of internal modules wherein each of the internal modules is individually compressed so that it can be removed from or added to the apparatus and each of the internal modules comprises:
• a pair of rigid interior end plates located at opposing ends of the internal module;
• and
• a stack of membrane bounded compartments layered from one of the interior end plates to the other of the interior end plates;
• wherein the plurality of internal modules are compressively coupled to each other such that the rigid interior end plate of one internal module contacts the rigid interior end plate of an adjacent internal module;
• and
• a blank module comprising an interior end plate fluidly coupled between interior end plates of adjacent internal modules.

A method for desalinating saltwater, the method comprising:

• generating a drive voltage using a drive cell;
• applying the drive voltage to a product cell comprising:
• a product feed compartment;
• and
• an anion exchange membrane and a cation exchange membrane located on opposing sides of the product feed compartment such that when a sufficient voltage that equals or exceeds a desalination voltage and that comprises the drive voltage is applied to the product feed compartment, anions and cations contained within saltwater in the product feed compartment are driven out of the product feed compartment through the anion and cation exchange membranes, respectively,
• wherein the drive and product cells are contained within a plurality of internal modules wherein each of the internal modules is individually compressed and comprises a pair of rigid interior end plates located at opposing ends of the internal module,
• wherein the plurality of internal modules are compressively coupled to each other such that the rigid interior end plate of one internal module contacts the rigid interior end plate of an adjacent internal module, and
• wherein the plurality of internal modules further comprises a blank module comprising an interior end plate fluidly coupled between interior end plates of adjacent modules.