Pressure exchange devices, systems, and related methods may include a tank, a piston, a valve device, and one or more sensors for monitoring a position of the piston in the tank.

A power generation process is disclosed, the process comprises dissolving a solute (10) into an unsaturated stream (140) to produce a high concentration stream (130) and converting latent mixing energy present in a high concentration input stream (130) into power by passage through a power unit (20) in which the concentration of the high concentration input stream (130) is reduced. The process comprises using a reduced concentration output stream (140) derived from the high concentration input stream (130) following passage through the power unit (20) as the unsaturated stream (140). A first fraction of the high concentration stream (130) is passed to the power unit (20) for use as the high concentration input stream (130) and a second fraction of the high concentration stream (130) is output from the process.

A power generation process is disclosed, the process comprises dissolving a solute (10) into an unsaturated stream (140) to produce a high concentration stream (130) and converting latent mixing energy present in a high concentration input stream (130) into power by passage through a power unit (20) in which the concentration of the high concentration input stream (130) is reduced. The process comprises using a reduced concentration output stream (140) derived from the high concentration input stream (130) following passage through the power unit (20) as the unsaturated stream (140). A first fraction of the high concentration stream (130) is passed to the power unit (20) for use as the high concentration input stream (130) and a second fraction of the high concentration stream (130) is output from the process.

A pressure exchanger for hydraulic fracking includes a rotor that is configured to rotate about an axis and includes a plurality of rotor ducts extending parallel to the axis, where each rotor duct extends between a first side and a second side of the rotor that are spaced apart from each other. The pressure exchanger further includes a first end cover that is disposed at the first side of the rotor and defines a first pair of apertures configured to communicate a first fluid including fracking particles, and a second end cover that is disposed at the second side of the rotor and defines a second pair of apertures configured to communicate a second fluid. The first end cover further defines a flush port configured to supply the second fluid into the first side of the rotor in a state in which the first pair of apertures communicate the first fluid with the first side of the rotor.

A pressure exchanger for hydraulic fracking includes a rotor that is configured to rotate about an axis and includes a plurality of rotor ducts extending parallel to the axis, where each rotor duct extends between a first side and a second side of the rotor that are spaced apart from each other. The pressure exchanger further includes a first end cover that is disposed at the first side of the rotor and defines a first pair of apertures configured to communicate a first fluid including fracking particles, and a second end cover that is disposed at the second side of the rotor and defines a second pair of apertures configured to communicate a second fluid. The first end cover further defines a flush port configured to supply the second fluid into the first side of the rotor in a state in which the first pair of apertures communicate the first fluid with the first side of the rotor.

A method for optimizing pressure exchange includes providing a first pressure exchange system comprising an energy recovery device (ERD). A second system supplies high-pressure fluid, energized by a positive displacement pump, to the ERD. A third system supplies low-pressure fluid to the ERD. The first system energizes the low-pressure fluid with the high-pressure fluid to form a high-pressure fracking fluid, which is delivered from the first system to a well-head. A rate of required flow is input into a control system, which determines a rate of flow of the high-pressure fluid, a rate of flow of the low-pressure fluid, and an actual rate of flow of the fracking fluid at the well-head. The control system then adjusts to equilibrium: the rate of flow of the high-pressure fluid based on the actual rate of flow; and the rate of flow of the low-pressure fluid based on the actual rate of flow.

A method for optimizing pressure exchange includes providing a first pressure exchange system comprising an energy recovery device (ERD). A second system supplies high-pressure fluid, energized by a positive displacement pump, to the ERD. A third system supplies low-pressure fluid to the ERD. The first system energizes the low-pressure fluid with the high-pressure fluid to form a high-pressure fracking fluid, which is delivered from the first system to a well-head. A rate of required flow is input into a control system, which determines a rate of flow of the high-pressure fluid, a rate of flow of the low-pressure fluid, and an actual rate of flow of the fracking fluid at the well-head. The control system then adjusts to equilibrium: the rate of flow of the high-pressure fluid based on the actual rate of flow; and the rate of flow of the low-pressure fluid based on the actual rate of flow.

A system includes an isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX) configured to exchange pressure between a first fluid and a second fluid. The IPX includes a rotor configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotor forms rotor ports arranged substantially symmetrically around the longitudinal axis at a distal end of the rotor. The IPX further includes an end cover configured to be disposed at the first distal end of the rotor. The end cover forms end cover ports. The rotor ports are arranged for hydraulic communication with the end cover ports. The IPX further includes an insert disposed between two of the rotor ports or between two of the end cover ports.

A system includes an isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX) configured to exchange pressure between a first fluid and a second fluid. The IPX includes a rotor configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotor forms rotor ports arranged substantially symmetrically around the longitudinal axis at a distal end of the rotor. The IPX further includes an end cover configured to be disposed at the first distal end of the rotor. The end cover forms end cover ports. The rotor ports are arranged for hydraulic communication with the end cover ports. The IPX further includes an insert disposed between two of the rotor ports or between two of the end cover ports.

A process for solution mining of minerals is disclosed. The process comprises injecting an unsaturated stream (150) at an injection pressure into a mineral formation (130) to dissolve the mineral and extracting a high concentration stream (110) containing said dissolved mineral. The process comprising converting latent osmotic energy present in said high concentration stream into an increase in the total pressure of said stream by passage through an osmotic power unit (200) and generating electricity and reducing to the injection pressure the total pressure of a reduced concentration output stream (150) by passage through a power generating device (250) and using the reduced concentration output stream (150) at the injection pressure as the unsaturated stream (150). A process for storing a fuel in an underground formation is also disclosed.