VOLUMETRIC PRESSURE EXCHANGER WITH BOOSTER EFFECT AND INTEGRATED FLOW MEASUREMENT, FOR A SEAWATER DESALINATION PLANT

Abstract

At least one pressure exchange unit with a hollow cylindrical body, a piston sliding in the body, the piston including a piston head separating the interior of the cylindrical body into a downstream chamber and an upstream chamber, the downstream chamber being provided with a device for the admission and discharge of water to be treated, the upstream chamber being provided with a five-way distributor linkage including, for hydraulic balancing, two pressurized liquid supply orifices, two orifices for the evacuation of the liquid and an opening in communication with the upstream chamber.

Claims

1. A volumetric pressure exchanger with a booster effect and flow measurement, comprising at least one pressure exchange unit with a hollow cylindrical body, a piston sliding in said body, said piston comprising a piston head separating an interior of said cylindrical body into a downstream chamber and an upstream chamber, said downstream chamber being provided with a device for an admission and discharge of water to be treated, wherein said upstream chamber is provided with a five-way distributor linkage comprising, for hydraulic balancing, two pressurized liquid supply orifices, two orifices for evacuating said liquid and an opening which is in communication with said upstream chamber.

2. The exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said distributor linkage is hydraulically balanced in order to remove axial stress on an axis of rotation of the distributor.

3. The exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the motorized distributor linkage provides for recovery of a pressure due to a pressure drop from the ROM with a very high efficiency, without an external pump or consumption of flow.

4. The exchanger according to claim 1, wherein cranks of the distributor linkage have symmetrical openings which are shaped so as to allow alternate fluid communication and an end to fluid communication with the supply and evacuation orifices of the exchanger.

5. The exchanger according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a plurality of units.

6. The exchanger as claimed in claim 5, wherein the linkages are offset in a manner which is evenly distributed over 360° depending on the number of units.

7. The exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the known displacement, a controlled speed of rotation of the linkage and the number of units accurately inform of a throughput of the exchanger.

8. The exchanger according to claim 1, wherein an energy arriving via the inlet orifice of the downstream chamber is recovered via the linkage and assists in raising the pressure.

9. A desalination plant containing a volumetric pressure according to claim 1, wherein the number of pressure exchange units, a bore and a stroke of the cylindrical bodies are adjusted as a function of the available throughput of concentrate for the plant.

10. The plant according to claim 9, wherein the rotational speed of the distributor linkages varies in a manner such that a desired degree of conversion is automatically adjusted.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of non-limiting indication and made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 shows, in section, a pressure exchange unit, the central portion of which is constituted by a cylindrical body in which a piston slides which is connected to the crankshaft via a connecting rod;

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a volumetric pressure exchanger comprising five pressure exchange units of the type shown in FIG. 1, mounted in parallel.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a pressure exchange unit the central portion of which is constituted by a cylindrical body (1) in which a piston (2) slides which is connected to the crankshaft (3d) via a connecting rod (3c), forming a distributor linkage (3). The piston (2) separates and seals off the interior of the cylindrical body (1) into a downstream chamber and an upstream chamber. The cylindrical body (1) is extended at its first end, on the downstream chamber side, by a block which is secured to the cylindrical body (1) in a sealed manner by means of gaskets and bolts, which are known per se.

[0018] The block includes an inlet orifice for supplying seawater to be treated with an inlet check valve (4) which is known per se to the person skilled in the art. The block also includes a discharge orifice supplying seawater to the ROM, also comprising a check valve (5).

[0019] The other end of the cylindrical body (1), on the upstream chamber side, is extended by a block incorporating the distributor linkage (3) which is secured by means of gaskets and bolts, which are known per se.

[0020] The cranks of the linkage (3) each comprise a supply orifice (3a) with a particular shape which at each turn alternately places the inlets for the pressurized concentrate in communication with the upstream chamber of the cylinder (1) and places the outlets for the concentrate, from which energy has been recovered, in communication with the upstream chamber of the cylinder (1). It should be noted that the system distributes and seals the various channels without placing axial thrust on the crankshaft (3d).

[0021] The shaft of the crankshaft (3d) is connected to a drive device which is itself driven by one or more motors (6), for example by means of gears. The motor or motors (6) ensure the rotation of the distributor linkage (3) at a controlled speed by means of a frequency convertor in order to adapt it to the desired degree of conversion and provide the energy necessary to compensate for the pressure drops of the ROM with a very high efficiency compared with the usual process in which the pressure is raised by means of an independent centrifugal feeding pump.

[0022] The pressure exchange the structure of which has been described above unit operates as follows:

[0023] Seawater, supplied via a feeding pump of the desalination plant, enters the block via the valve (4) and therefore enters into the interior of the downstream chamber of the cylindrical body (1), without regulating the inlet pressure, and leaves it via the discharge valve (5). The crankshaft (3d) rotates continuously.

[0024] At the beginning of a cycle, when the piston (2) is to the right in the reversal of movement position, the supply orifices (3a) for supplying concentrate enter into communication with the high pressure inlets, the concentrate enters the upstream chamber of the cylindrical body (1), with the downstream chamber being filled with seawater.

[0025] The piston moves to the left, discharging the untreated seawater via the valve (5), pushed by the concentrate and assisted by the drive motors with an expenditure of energy corresponding to the required rise in pressure.

[0026] When the piston arrives at the end of the stroke on the left, the orifices (3a) simultaneously shut down the communication with the high pressure inlets for the concentrate and open the communication with the outlets for the concentrate from which the energy has been taken. The consequential depressurization of both sides of the piston (2) causes the closure of the valve (5), the untreated seawater supplied via a feeding pump of the plant enters via the valve (4) and pushes the piston (2) to the right, delivering the concentrate for a new cycle. In contrast to known systems, any surplus energy contained in the seawater originating from the feeding pump is recovered and assists the motors in ensuring rotation and the rise in pressure. In the event of insufficient supply pressure, which is unacceptable in other known systems, the motors supply the energy necessary for evacuating the concentrate.

[0027] For greater precision, the references in FIG. 1 relating to the position of the water to be treated and the treated water are given below:

[0028] (7): high pressure untreated water outlet;

[0029] (8): low pressure untreated water inlet;

[0030] (9): high pressure supersalty water inlet;

[0031] (10): low-pressure supersalty water outlet;

[0032] (11): supersalty water;

[0033] (12): untreated water.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a volumetric pressure exchanger comprising five pressure exchange units of the type shown in FIG. 1, mounted in parallel. Electric geared motors ensure the rotation of the five distributor links which are offset from one another by 72° so as to ensure smooth operation of the system.

[0035] The number, the diameter and the stroke of the cylinders define the system as a high-precision flow meter; this feature makes it possible, with a simple controller, to vary the speed of rotation in order to adapt the flow rate through the pressure exchanger to the desired degree of conversion.

[0036] In summary, the volumetric pressure exchanger in accordance with the invention offers the following characteristics and advantages:

[0037] low energy consumption of the distribution system;

[0038] pressure rise by the volumetric system with higher efficiency than centrifugal pumps and without the consumption of the concentrate flow for the function;

[0039] no concentrate/seawater mixing due to the total imperviousness of the separator piston;

[0040] no leakage of the distributor system because of the augmented sealing rings;

[0041] partial recovery of the energy contained in the untreated water supplied by the feeding pumps;

[0042] no regulations are applicable to the untreated water supply, the high pressure untreated water outlet, the high pressure concentrate supply or the low pressure concentrate outlet;

[0043] adaptability to the desired degree of conversion by controlling the speed of rotation;

[0044] no risk of water hammer;

[0045] quiet operation;

[0046] possibilities for very high throughputs;

[0047] small footprint, few and short connecting pipework;

[0048] simple and inexpensive maintenance;

[0049] the system does not require water filtration below 50 microns.