Patent ID: 8354025
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: B01D,C02F

Abstract:
1. A self-regulating forward osmosis (FO) system comprising: (a) a container containing a source water supply; (b) a FO membrane element located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet; (c) an osmotic pump element located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet; and (d) an osmotic agent tank located above the container comprising a feed tube connected to an outlet located on the bottom of the osmotic agent tank, the feed tube in fluid communication with the osmotic agent inlet of the FO membrane element and the osmotic agent inlet of the osmotic pump element; whereby the osmotic pump element regulates osmotic agent flow rates into the FO membrane element by creating a density gradient within the osmotic agent tank.