US 12,030,792 B2
Recirculation loop reverse osmosis system with structurally fixed recovery rate and structurally stabilized full flow discharge
Johannes P. Schneeberger, Petaluma, CA (US); and Michael Anderson, Petaluma, CA (US)
Assigned to KATADYN DESALINATION, LLC, Petaluma, CA (US)
Filed by KATADYN DESALINATION, LLC, Petaluma, CA (US)
Filed on May 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/737,917.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/184,912, filed on May 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0356084 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B01D 61/06 (2006.01); B01D 61/12 (2006.01); C02F 1/44 (2023.01); C02F 103/08 (2006.01)
CPC C02F 1/441 (2013.01) [B01D 61/06 (2013.01); B01D 61/12 (2013.01); B01D 2313/18 (2013.01); B01D 2313/243 (2013.01); B01D 2313/246 (2013.01); B01D 2313/48 (2013.01); B01D 2315/20 (2013.01); C02F 2103/08 (2013.01); C02F 2209/006 (2013.01); C02F 2209/02 (2013.01); C02F 2209/03 (2013.01); C02F 2209/05 (2013.01); C02F 2209/44 (2013.01); C02F 2301/046 (2013.01); C02F 2303/16 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A recirculation loop reverse osmosis system capable to recirculate a feed water along a recirculation loop having interposed a number of reverse osmosis membranes while a purified product water extracted from said feed water across the reverse osmosis membranes is replenished by an externally supplied source water, said recirculation loop reverse osmosis system comprising:
a. a recirculation loop comprising a low pressure portion and a high pressure portion, wherein:
i. along said low pressure portion is connected a discharge line followed by a source water entrance with respect to a flow direction of said recirculation loop;
ii. along said high pressure portion is interposed a number of reverse osmosis membranes;
b. a combined displacement pump and displacement motor that is:
i. interposed between and pressure wise separating said low pressure portion and said high pressure portion;
ii. configured to pressurize an entering feed water prior to entering said high pressure portion and advancing said entering feed water into said high pressure portion;
iii. configured to recover simultaneously a residual pressure of an exiting feed water that is exiting said high pressure portion and advancing said exiting feed water into said low pressure portion;
wherein said combined displacement pump and displacement motor is configured to process said feed water:
i. substantially free of mixing said entering feed water and said exiting feed water;
ii. advancing said entering feed water and said exiting feed water in a structurally defined volume flow difference between them, said structurally defined volume flow difference forcing a structurally defined recovery rate at which purified product water is being extracted across said number of reverse osmosis membranes;
iii. advancing said entering feed water in a structurally defined volume flow that is in a substantially fixed proportion to an operation speed at which said combined displacement pump and displacement motor is externally driven;
c. a concentrate discharge start parameter;
d. a concentrate discharge stop parameter;
e. a feed water sensor that is configured to sense a feed water condition;
f. a feed water discharger that is configured to:
i. begin discharging said exiting feed water in response to said sensed feed water condition matching said concentrate discharge start parameter;
ii. stop discharging said exiting feed water in response to at least one of:
1. said sensed feed water condition matching said concentrate discharge stop parameter; or
2. said concentrate discharge stop parameter being met.