Reverse osmosis system with control based on flow rates in the permeate and brine streams
AssigneeFluid Equipment Development Company, LLC
InventorEli Oklejas, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reverse osmosis system includes a membrane chamber having a feed line. The chamber generates a permeate stream and a brine stream from the feed line. A feed pump pressurizes the feed line. A first flow meter generates a first flow signal corresponding to a flow of fluid in the permeate stream. A booster device has a turbine in fluid communication with the brine stream and a pump in fluid communication with the feed line. A motor is coupled to the turbine device and a variable frequency drive is attached to the turbine device operating in response to the first flow signal. A second flow meter generates a second flow signal corresponding to a flow of fluid in the brine stream and a variable size nozzle operates an opening in response to the second flow meter.
Claims21
A method of operating a reverse osmosis system, wherein the reverse osmosis system comprises (i) a membrane chamber having a feed line and generating a permeate stream and a brine stream, and (ii) a booster device having a turbine portion in fluid communication with the brine stream, a pump portion in fluid communication with the feed line, and a first motor coupled to the turbine portion using a common shaft between the turbine portion, pump portion, and first motor, the method comprising:
- pressurizing the feed line using a feed pump;
- generating a first flow signal, via a first flow meter, corresponding to a flow of fluid in the permeate stream;
- operating a variable frequency drive attached to the first motor in response to the first flow signal;
- controlling the first motor in response to the variable frequency drive;
- generating a second flow signal, via a second flow meter, corresponding to a flow of fluid in the brine stream;
- and
- controlling an opening to the turbine portion by adjusting a variable size nozzle in response to the second flow signal.
A method of operating a multi-stage reverse osmosis system having a feed manifold, a permeate manifold and a plurality of reverse osmosis stages fluidically coupled to the feed manifold and the permeate manifold, wherein each stage of the multi-stage reverse osmosis system comprises a membrane chamber having a feed line, wherein said membrane chamber generates a permeate stream and a brine stream, wherein each of the stages further comprises (i) a booster device having a turbine portion in fluid communication with the brine stream, a pump portion in fluid communication with the feed line, a variable frequency drive attached to a first motor, said turbine portion, pump portion and first motor comprising a common shaft, the method comprising:
- pressurizing a feed stream within the feed manifold with a feed pump to form a pressurized feed stream;
- at each of the stages:
- passing the pressurized feed stream through the feed line;
- generating a first flow signal, in a first flow meter, corresponding to a flow of fluid in the permeate stream;
- operating the variable frequency drive of the first motor in response to the first flow signal;
- controlling the first motor in response to the variable frequency drive;
- generating a second flow signal, via a second flow meter, corresponding to a flow of fluid in the brine stream;
- and
- controlling an opening to the turbine portion by adjusting a variable size nozzle in response to the second flow signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.