US 12,128,358 B2
Methods of treating fluids using thermal gradient osmosis
Aaron D. Wilson, Idaho Falls, ID (US); Christopher J. Orme, Firth, ID (US); John R. Klaehn, Idaho Falls, ID (US); Birendra Adhikari, Ammon, ID (US); Frederick F. Stewart, Idaho Falls, ID (US); and Seth W. Snyder, Ammon, ID (US)
Assigned to Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, Idaho Falls, ID (US)
Filed by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, Idaho Falls, ID (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/009,360.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/895,597, filed on Sep. 4, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0060488 A1, Mar. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. B01D 53/22 (2006.01); B01D 61/00 (2006.01); B01D 69/02 (2006.01); B01D 69/10 (2006.01); B01D 69/12 (2006.01); C02F 1/44 (2023.01)
CPC B01D 61/005 (2013.01) [B01D 53/228 (2013.01); B01D 61/002 (2013.01); B01D 69/02 (2013.01); B01D 69/107 (2022.08); B01D 69/1216 (2022.08); C02F 1/445 (2013.01); B01D 2311/103 (2013.01); B01D 2313/221 (2022.08); B01D 2313/903 (2022.08); B01D 2325/36 (2013.01); B01D 2325/38 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of treating a fluid, comprising:
introducing a feed fluid stream comprising multiple materials to a first side of a semi-permeable membrane;
introducing a draw fluid stream having a higher temperature than a temperature of the feed fluid stream to a second, opposing side of the semi-permeable membrane to form a thermal gradient across the semi-permeable membrane;
increasing a temperature of one or more portions of the semi-permeable membrane proximate the second, opposing side of the semi-permeable membrane relative to one or more other portions of the semi-permeable membrane proximate the first side of the semi-permeable membrane by physically contacting the semi-permeable membrane with at least a portion of a membrane heating device; and
drawing one or more of the multiple materials of the feed fluid stream through the semi-permeable membrane and into the draw fluid stream via thermal gradient osmosis.