The reverse osmosis centrifuge converts rotational energy into fluid velocity and conserves the energy placed into the concentrate. As concentrate travels back towards the center of the reverse osmosis centrifuge, the velocity of the fluid is converted into rotational force, thus conserving energy placed into the concentrate. To accomplish this, the reverse osmosis centrifuge includes a support shaft, a plurality of receiving tubes, a plurality of housings with filters therein, a plurality of departure tubes, and a permeate trough. The plurality of receiving tubes are coupled to a top of the plurality of housings, while the plurality of departure tubes are coupled to a bottom of the plurality of housings. Centrifugal force creates the permeate and concentrate. The permeate exits the plurality of housings and is deposited into the permeate trough. The concentrate travels through, and exists from, the plurality of departure tubes.

An apparatus, system and method to purify produced water from a wellbore using energy. The apparatus comprises a wellbore with a wellhead attached to the wellbore; at least one energy recapture device connected to the wellhead of the wellbore with produced water, wherein the at least one energy recapture device captures fluid pressure of the production fluids including produced water; and at least one reverse osmosis membrane connected to the pressure recapture device wherein the at least one reverse osmosis membrane uses at least a portion of the fluid pressure from the energy recapture device to move a volume of the produced water through the reverse osmosis membrane to remove contaminates from the produced water to create purified water. The method comprises steps to use the apparatus and the system comprises a control panel that operates the at least one energy recapture device and the at least one reverse osmosis membrane in a coordinated manner.

A fluid treatment system, for example a membrane filtration system, utilizing means to mechanically vary fluid recovery and energy recovery to optimize fluid production for a given energy input, based on the total dissolved solids concentration in the fluid feed stream.

A water desalination system includes a first set of ultrafiltration membranes, a second set of ultrafiltration membranes, a first backwashing system configured to treat at least one of the first set of ultrafiltration membranes or the second set of ultrafiltration membranes with brine generated by a reverse osmosis process, and a second backwashing system configured to treat at least one of the first set of ultrafiltration membranes or the second set of ultrafiltration membranes with one or more chemicals and reverse osmosis permeate water.

Methods and systems for desalinating feedwater are disclosed. The system includes at least one feedwater source, a reverse osmosis module, an input feedwater stream fed to the reverse osmosis module, and a control module. The feedwater stream comprises water from at least one feedwater source, e.g., from two or more feedwater sources of different salinities. The control module analyzes the level of energy available to the system, and increases the salinity of the input feedwater stream proportional to an increase in available energy. Feedwater stream salinity can be adjusted to reach water demand targets and fully utilize variable power inputs from renewable sources.

A heat power management system is disclosed for an alternating current (AC) power controller for use with portable reverse osmosis water purification systems requiring precise control of a heating action for an internal water heater coupled with energy savings and the reduction of AC line disturbances. The heat power management system is designed to operate with various international electrical systems while protecting such system from excessive current draws.

An osmotic power generator comprising an active membrane supported in a housing, at least a first chamber portion disposed on a first side of the active membrane for receiving a first electrolyte liquid and a second chamber portion disposed on a second side of the active membrane for receiving a second electrolyte liquid, a generator circuit comprising at least a first electrode electrically coupled to said first chamber, and at least a second electrode electrically coupled to said second chamber, the first and second electrodes configured to be connected together through a generator load receiving electrical power generated by a difference in potential and an ionic current between the first and second electrodes. The active membrane includes at least one pore allowing ions to pass between the first and second sides of the membrane under osmosis due to an osmotic gradient between the first and second electrolyte liquids to generate said difference in potential and ionic current between the first and second electrodes.

A reverse osmosis system includes a wheel formed of a hollow central hub, radial tubes fluidly connected to the central hub, semi-permeable membranes provided in each radial tube, a permeate outlet tube, and a concentrate outlet tube; a permeate collection tank; a concentrate collection tank; and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism rotationally drives the wheel while the source liquid is supplied to the central hub of the wheel, the rotation causing the source liquid to enter the radial tubes in radially outward directions and cause pressure increase on the source liquid in the radial tubes. The pressure increase forces the source liquid through the semi-permeable membranes to separate into permeate and concentrate, the permeate being directed to the permeate collection tank through the permeate outlet tube and the concentrate being directed to the concentrate collection tank through the concentrate outlet tube.

A reverse osmosis system and a method of operating the same includes a membrane housing comprising a reverse osmosis membrane therein. The membrane housing has a feed fluid inlet, a brine outlet and a permeate outlet. A first turbocharger has a first pump portion and a first turbine portion. The brine outlet is coupled to a first pipe directing a first portion of brine to the first pump portion. The first pump portion is in fluid communication with the feed fluid inlet. A feed pump communicates feed fluid to the feed fluid inlet. The brine outlet is coupled to a second pipe directing a second portion of brine away from the first pump portion.

A reverse osmosis system and a method of operating the same includes a membrane housing comprising a reverse osmosis membrane therein. The membrane housing has a feed fluid inlet, a brine outlet and a permeate outlet. A first turbocharger has a first pump portion and a first turbine portion. The brine outlet is coupled to a first pipe directing a first portion of brine to the first pump portion. The first pump portion is in fluid communication with the feed fluid inlet. A feed pump communicates feed fluid to the feed fluid inlet. The brine outlet is coupled to a second pipe directing a second portion of brine away from the first pump portion.