Provided is a controller for an energy generation system, the controller exerting optimum control so that, while a waste of energy is eliminated, any operation trouble is not caused. The controller for the energy generation system of the present invention is a controller for an energy generation system that uses a forward osmosis membrane, the controller including: a first regulation unit for regulating the discharge of non-permeating water from the forward osmosis membrane; a second regulation unit for regulating the supply of fresh water to the forward osmosis membrane; a third regulation unit for regulating the supply of salt water to the forward osmosis membrane; a fourth regulation unit for regulating the discharge of mixed water from the forward osmosis membrane; and a control unit for controlling the first regulation unit, the second regulation unit, the third regulation unit, and the fourth regulation unit.

It is a battery, but electricity output not from electrochemistry, only ionic current loop and its induced high magnetic field ready for use. The power comes from osmotic pressure without any chemical reaction. Recharging the battery can be done by reverse osmosis, or replacement of liquid media. Electrolyte, 2 or 3 liquid segments, ion-exchange membranes and valves are needed. Only 3-segment system can output electricity by non-electrochemical method. Huge current can be generated in liquid-loop comprising different concentration compartments; it is not the regular invisible lepton electronic current, but pure hadron or baryon ionic current, up to millions amperes that can be far larger than any superconductor's capability. Protons and small anions are preferred, so as to reduce mass transfer & ion hammer effect.

A process for the generation of electricity comprises the steps of extracting a warm saline stream from a geothermal formation, and converting latent osmotic energy present in said stream into electricity by passage through an osmotic power unit in which said stream is passed over one side of a semi-permeable membrane which permits the passage of water but not the passage of salts, an aqueous stream of lower salinity than said stream being passed over the other side of said membrane. The temperature of said warm saline stream is reduced before said stream enters the osmotic power unit by passage through a thermal power unit in which thermal energy present in said stream is converted into electricity.

A process for the generation of electricity comprises the steps of extracting a warm saline stream from a geothermal formation, and converting latent osmotic energy present in said stream into electricity by passage through an osmotic power unit in which said stream is passed over one side of a semi-permeable membrane which permits the passage of water but not the passage of salts, an aqueous stream of lower salinity than said stream being passed over the other side of said membrane. The temperature of said warm saline stream is reduced before said stream enters the osmotic power unit by passage through a thermal power unit in which thermal energy present in said stream is converted into electricity.

An osmotic process comprising for a first period, passing a draw stream and a feed stream through an osmotic unit having a semi-permeable membrane, permitting the passage of water but not salts. The feed stream is an aqueous stream with a lower salinity than the draw stream. The feed stream has a scalant with a concentration above saturation in a region on a feed side of the semi-permeable membrane. The draw stream passes over a draw side of the membrane and the feed stream passes over the feed side so water passes across the membrane from the feed stream to the draw stream. For a second time period, the flow rate of the draw stream is lower than the flow rate in the first time period, and the feed stream passes over the feed side such that the concentration of the scalant in said region is reduced.

An osmosis module for pressure retarded osmosis comprising a pressure vessel having a first draw port and a second draw port. The first draw port is provided in a first end-face of the pressure vessel and is in fluid communication with a central structure. A plurality of hollow fibre semipermeable membranes are received within a fibre region of the osmosis module, and are provided around the central structure. In a first lengthwise region of the osmosis module, the draw stream flow between the first draw port and the fibre region via the central structure. In a second lengthwise region of the osmosis module, the flow path which the draw stream flows between the draw ports, is confined to the fibre region and extends substantially parallel to the central structure. The second region extends along a majority of the length of the fibre region.

Provided is a controller for an energy generation system, the controller exerting optimum control so that, while a waste of energy is eliminated, any operation trouble is not caused. The controller for the energy generation system of the present invention is a controller for an energy generation system that uses a forward osmosis membrane, the controller including: a first regulation unit for regulating the discharge of non-permeating water from the forward osmosis membrane; a second regulation unit for regulating the supply of fresh water to the forward osmosis membrane; a third regulation unit for regulating the supply of salt water to the forward osmosis membrane; a fourth regulation unit for regulating the discharge of mixed water from the forward osmosis membrane; and a control unit for controlling the first regulation unit, the second regulation unit, the third regulation unit, and the fourth regulation unit.

Systems and processes for purifying and concentrating a liquid feed stream are disclosed. In the systems, the concentrated liquid output from the high pressure side of a reverse osmosis stage is used as the draw solution in the low pressure side of the reverse osmosis stage in a configuration called osmotically assisted reverse osmosis. This reduces the osmotic pressure differential across the membrane, permitting high solute concentrations to be obtained, hastening the purification of the liquid. Reduced system pressures are also obtained by arranging multiple osmotically assisted reverse osmosis stages in a cross-current arrangement. Overall system energy consumption is reduced compared to conventional thermal processes for high concentration streams.

Systems and processes for purifying and concentrating a liquid feed stream are disclosed. In the systems, the concentrated liquid output from the high pressure side of a reverse osmosis stage is used as the draw solution in the low pressure side of the reverse osmosis stage in a configuration called osmotically assisted reverse osmosis. This reduces the osmotic pressure differential across the membrane, permitting high solute concentrations to be obtained, hastening the purification of the liquid. Reduced system pressures are also obtained by arranging multiple osmotically assisted reverse osmosis stages in a cross-current arrangement. Overall system energy consumption is reduced compared to conventional thermal processes for high concentration streams.

According to one embodiment, a water treatment method is a method configured to use a working medium that includes a draw solution and a water-containing solution to be treated. The draw solution is a hyperosmotic solution which generates an osmotic pressure difference with water. The method includes generating a flux of a mixture of water and a draw solution by an osmotic pressure difference generated between a solution to be treated and the draw solution in an osmotic pressure generator compartmentalized by an osmosis membrane, transferring the flux of the mixture to a vaporization-separation unit, separating the mixture into the water and the draw solution by a pressure difference, and recycling the draw solution separated by the vaporization-separation unit.