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US 8,795,525 B2Granted
Utility scale osmotic grid storage
AssigneeOasys Water, Inc.
InventorsRobert McGinnis, Aaron Mandell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for the storage of potential energy that may be readily converted to electrical power delivered to a customer or grid distribution are disclosed. This method may involve the use of salinity gradients, or as they may be also described, osmotic pressure gradients or differences between two solutions, to produce hydraulic pressure in a concentrated solution, allowing for the generation of power.
Claims13
A method of operating an electrochemical generator, comprising the steps of:
- providing a separation unit configured for separating a dilute salt solution using at least one of electrical energy or thermal energy;
- providing a membrane module in fluid communication with the separation unit;
- introducing the dilute salt solution to the separation unit;
- introducing at least one of electrical energy or thermal energy to the separation unit to separate the dilute salt solution into a dilute working fluid and a concentrated draw solution;
- directing the dilute working fluid to a first storage tank;
- directing the concentrated draw solution to a second storage tank;
- maintaining the first and second storage tanks in fluidic isolation;
- providing means for interconnecting the membrane module and the first and second storage tanks, wherein the means for interconnecting comprises a controller and a valve;
- in response to a power demand signal, interconnecting the first and second storage tanks with the membrane module, pressurizing a first side of the membrane module, wherein the first side of the membrane module receives the concentrated draw solution from the second storage tank, and fluxing at least a portion of the dilute working fluid across the membrane to produce a pressurized dilute draw solution;
- directing the pressurized dilute draw solution to a pressure exchanger;
- pressurizing a separate working fluid with the pressure exchanger;
- and
- directing the pressurized separate working fluid to a turbine to generate electrical power.
10 more elements
A method of operating an electrochemical generator, comprising the steps of:
- providing a separation unit configured for separating a dilute salt solution using at least one of electrical energy or thermal energy;
- providing a membrane module in fluid communication with the separation unit;
- introducing the dilute salt solution to the separation unit;
- introducing at least one of electrical energy or thermal energy to the separation unit to separate the dilute salt solution into a dilute working fluid and a concentrated draw solution;
- directing the dilute working fluid to a first storage tank;
- directing the concentrated draw solution to a second storage tank;
- maintaining the first and second storage tanks in fluidic isolation;
- periodically directing at least a portion of the dilute working fluid to a secondary separation unit to maintain a low concentration of solutes therein;
- providing means for interconnecting the membrane module and the first and second storage tanks, wherein the means for interconnecting comprise a controller and a valve;
- and
- in response to a power demand signal:
- interconnecting the first and second storage tanks with the membrane module
- pressurizing a first side of the membrane module, wherein the first side of the membrane module receives the concentrated draw solution from the second storage tank;
- and
- fluxing at least a portion of the dilute working fluid across the membrane to produce a pressurized dilute draw solution.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.