Embodiments of this invention provide an integrated system for clean energy generation and storage and RO desalination. The integrated system includes a first subsystem that stores hydraulic energy. The integrated system further includes a second subsystem that desalinates water. The integration system also includes a penstock that facilitates flow of the water between the first subsystem and the second subsystem. The integrated subsystem may also incorporate solar and/or wind power generation plants as a power source for the integrated system.

A method of treating a fluid comprises introducing a feed fluid stream comprising multiple materials to first side of a semi-permeable membrane. A draw fluid stream having a higher temperature than the feed fluid stream is introduced to second, opposing side of the semi-permeable membrane to form a thermal gradient across the semi-permeable membrane. One or more of the multiple materials of the feed fluid stream is drawn through the semi-permeable membrane and into the draw fluid stream via thermal gradient osmosis. A fluid treatment system and a thermal gradient osmosis apparatus are also described.

An electrolyser operates within an energy system, for example to provide grid services, energy storage or fuel, or to produce hydrogen from electricity produced from renewable resources. The electrolyser may be configured to operate at frequently or quickly varying rates of electricity consumption or to operate at a specified power consumption.

The disclosure discloses a sewage treatment device and method for synchronously recovering water and electric energy, belonging to the field of sewage treatment. The method of the disclosure includes the following steps: enabling municipal sewage serving as influent water and a sludge and sewage mixed solution serving as a feed solution to enter a feed solution channel of a membrane component through a peristaltic pump, and enabling brine serving as a draw solution to enter a draw solution channel of the membrane component through a high pressure pump; enabling water to flow from the side of the feed solution to the side of the draw solution by means of the osmotic pressure difference between two sides of an FO membrane, and enabling the mixed draw solution with high pressure to push a turbine to rotate in an outflow process, so as to generate electric energy; and enabling the diluted draw solution to pass through a draw solution recovery system to obtain recycled water, and at the same time, enabling the concentrated draw solution to continue to be applied to the FO membrane.

Energy may be stored by injecting fluid into a fracture in the earth and producing the fluid back while recovering power and/or desalinating water. The method may be particularly adapted to storage of large amounts of energy such as in grid-scale electric energy systems. The fracture may be formed and treated with resin so as to limit fluid loss and to increase propagation pressure. The fluid may be water containing a dissolved salt or fresh water and a portion or all of the water may be desalinated using pressure in the water when it is produced.

A vacuum distillation apparatus for producing treated water from a supply of seed water, the apparatus including: an evaporation chamber for receiving and evaporating the seed water; a heat source for supplying heat to the evaporation chamber; a condensation chamber in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber for receiving and condensing the evaporated seed water; a pressure reducer in communication with the evaporation chamber for promoting evaporation of the seed water; and at least one cooling member disposed within the condensation chamber on which the evaporated seed water can condense, the cooling member being arranged to transfer condensed vapour for collection at a treated water outlet.

Materials (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems equipment, and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, using an array of vaults.

This Adaptive Catalytic Technology (ACT) water treatment invention uses a series of integrated sequential modular advanced technologies to treat and eliminate or reduce suspended solids, hardness, heavy metals, organic compounds and microorganisms and to provide good tasting chlorine-free sanitized drinking water. The advanced technologies used herein are specifically designed to provide synergistic benefits that minimizes power consumption while improving the overall treatment effectiveness, making it possible to provide a cost effective and sustainable ACT water treatment for point of use drinking water supply for remote or developing areas, as well as residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The advanced technologies employed are environmentally friendly and safe. Specifically, the ACT water treatment invention does not require hazardous chemicals that need special handling to operate or maintain and it does not produce a waste stream or generates disinfection by-products (DBPs), such as, trihalomethanes (THMs) or haloacetic acids (HAAs).

Energy may be stored by injecting fluid into a fracture in the earth and producing the fluid back while recovering power and/or desalinating water. The method may be particularly adapted to storage of large amounts of energy such as in grid-scale electric energy systems. The fracture may be formed and treated with resin so as to limit fluid loss and to increase propagation pressure. The fluid may be water containing a dissolved salt or fresh water and a portion or all of the water may be desalinated using pressure in the water when it is produced.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. Systems, methods and equipment are described for upgrading process streams using electrodialysis or electrodialysis reversal.