US 12,404,197 B2
Desalination brine concentration system and method
Ahmed Saleh Mohammed Alamoudi, Al-Jubail (SA); Mohammed Farooque Ayumantakath, Al-Jubail (SA); Nikolay Voutchkov, Winter Springs, FL (US); and Seungwon Ihm, Al-Jubail (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI WATER AUTHORITY, Riyadh (SA)
Filed by Saudi Water Authority, Riyadh (SA)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/545,457.
Application 18/545,457 is a division of application No. 17/161,054, filed on Jan. 28, 2021, granted, now 11,884,567.
Application 17/161,054 is a division of application No. 16/371,816, filed on Apr. 1, 2019, granted, now 10,947,143.
Prior Publication US 2024/0158276 A1, May 16, 2024
Int. Cl. C02F 9/00 (2023.01); B01D 61/00 (2006.01); B01D 61/02 (2006.01); B01D 61/58 (2006.01); B01D 63/02 (2006.01); C02F 1/44 (2023.01); C02F 103/08 (2006.01)
CPC C02F 9/00 (2013.01) [B01D 61/0021 (2022.08); B01D 61/0022 (2022.08); B01D 61/025 (2013.01); B01D 61/027 (2013.01); B01D 61/029 (2022.08); B01D 61/58 (2013.01); B01D 63/02 (2013.01); B01D 2311/06 (2013.01); B01D 2311/08 (2013.01); B01D 2311/14 (2013.01); B01D 2317/022 (2013.01); B01D 2317/025 (2013.01); C02F 1/441 (2013.01); C02F 1/442 (2013.01); C02F 1/445 (2013.01); C02F 2103/08 (2013.01); C02F 2209/03 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a brine concentration system, comprising the steps of:
supplying a divalent ion concentration unit with a saline source stream at a retentate side of the divalent ion concentration unit to output a divalent ion concentration unit retentate side stream and a divalent ion concentration unit permeate side stream,
supplying a first reverse osmosis membrane unit with at least a portion of the divalent ion concentration unit permeate side stream at a retentate side to output a first reverse osmosis membrane unit retentate side stream and a first reverse osmosis membrane unit permeate side stream,
optionally supplying a second reverse osmosis membrane unit with at least a portion of the first reverse osmosis unit retentate side stream at a retentate side to output a second reverse osmosis membrane unit retentate side stream and a second reverse osmosis membrane unit permeate side stream,
supplying a first brine concentrator with a first portion of the first reverse osmosis membrane unit retentate stream or a first portion of the optional second reverse osmosis membrane unit retentate side stream at a retentate side, and a second portion of the first reverse osmosis membrane unit or a second portion of the optional second reverse osmosis membrane unit retentate side stream at a permeate side to output a retentate side stream and a permeate side stream,
supplying a second brine concentrator with a first portion of the first brine concentrator retentate side stream at a retentate side, and a second portion of the first brine concentrator retentate side stream at a permeate side to output a second brine concentrator retentate side stream and a second brine concentrator permeate side stream, and
supplying the first and/or the optional second reverse osmosis membrane unit(s), at a retentate side only, with at least a portion of the first brine concentrator permeate side stream and/or the second brine concentrator permeate side stream.