Method and a system for performing maintenance on a membrane used for pressure retarded osmosis

A method and system for performing maintenance on a membrane having semi-permeable properties and is used in a pressure retarded osmosis PRO, the membrane having a high pressure first side and second side of lower pressure. A time controllable first valve or pump (31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 81; 91) is connected between an input (12) to the low pressure side of the membrane (13′) and an input (11) to the high pressure side of the membrane (13′), said first valve or pump operable to selectively deliver a plug (21) of a second type of water (FW) to the first side of the membrane to lower concentration of dissolved substance (s) in water of a first type (SW) thereat, thereby creating a PRO pressure backwash function with the water of the second type (FW) from the first to the second side of the membrane pressurized on said first side by high pressure supply of water of the first type (SW) upstream of said plug (21) of water of the second type (SW).

The present invention relates to a method and a system for performing maintenance on a membrane having semi-permeable properties for use based on pressure retarded osmosis PRO, the membrane having a high pressure first side and second side of lower pressure, as indicated in the attached claims.

Such a membrane, as well as a method and a device for providing electric power through the use of pressure retarded osmosis is disclosed in Norwegian Patent 314575. The disclosed membrane has a thin layer of a non-porous material, the so-called diffusion skin, and a porous layer. The reference to said patent implies inclusion of its disclosure in this specification.

During the normal PRO operation of that prior art technique, i.e. when such a device is to provide power, the first side of the membrane is configured to receive a high pressure supply of sea water, and correspondingly the second side of the membrane is configured to receive a low pressure supply fresh water.

A pressure retarded osmosis power plant is comparable to a reverse osmosis desalination plant running backwards. However, a PRO plant will be able to generate power from freshwater in stead of consuming power. Filtered fresh water enters the membrane from the low pressure side thereof and a high percentage of the fresh water, e.g. 70-90%, is transferred by osmosis across the membrane into the pressurized sea water on the high pressure side of the membrane, which preferably may have the diffusion skin oriented toward the high pressure side. The osmotic process increases the volumetric flow of high pressure water and is the key energy transfer in such a power plant. This requires a membrane that has a high water flux and a high salt retention. Typical membrane performance should be at least 4 W per square meter of membrane face area, although higher performance may be conceivable. Salt water is pumped from the sea or another source of saline water and filtered before pressurisation and feeding to the membrane. A potential consideration could be in special cases to replace salt by a solute containing different substance(s). In a module containing the membrane, the sea water is diluted by freshwater coming through the membrane, and volumetric feed of sea water is typically approximately twice that of the fresh water.

As disclosed in said Norwegian Patent, the resulting brackish water from the membrane module is split in two flows, approximately ⅓ of the brackish water going to the turbine to generate power and approximately ⅔ returning via a pressure exchanger to an outlet, thereby by means of the pressure exchanger contributing to the pressurisation of the feed of sea water. Suitably, the sea water pressure is in the range of 11-15 bars, equivalent to a water head 100-150 meters in a hydropower plant, which implies the power generation in the range of 1 MW per cubic meter per second of supplied fresh water.

Some pre-treatment of supplied sea water and fresh water must be performed through use mechanical filtering. However, although mechanical filtering may be effective in most cases, there are nevertheless particles and microbes that are not filtered away and which pass into the membrane from the low pressure side. Over time the performance of the membrane will be reduced and accordingly the performance of the power plant, unless some maintenance is performed to clean the membrane.

One way to perform maintenance would be to remove membranes for cleaning and reinstall thereafter the membranes for further operation, or install replacement membranes when the other membranes are cleaned. However, a power plant should to the extent possible provide power on an continuous basis, with a minimum of down time or reduced capacity, and above all with a minimum of maintenance staff to carry out removal, cleaning and reinstalling. It will also be appreciated that physical removal of a large number of membranes for cleaning would also be very time consuming and would require numerous of membrane module inlet and outlet shut-off valves. However, if a small number of modules at a time is subjected to maintenance/cleaning through such physical removal and reinstalling, it could imply that 0.25%-1% of the modules are removed and reinstalled on a daily basis, yielding that the plant will have a reduced capacity by 0.25-1% if maintenance takes a full day. More frequent measures, such as cleaning, has to be made in-situ, and should not take more than a few seconds or minutes, dependent on the frequency of such measures per module. The present invention is typically directed at providing for such more frequent measures to be made possible in an efficient, simple manner. It will be appreciated at major maintenance or washing/cleaning of a module should not need to be made more frequent than, say, every 6 to 24 months.

It has therefore been an object of the present invention to avoid a time consuming, technically complicated and expensive maintenance, and in stead provide a very efficient method and system for performing such maintenance, and which will require a minimum of staff, a minimum of time and no membrane removal/reinstalling. The invention has also as an object to provide for remote control of the maintenance.

In the context of the present invention, the use of a skin on e.g. the high pressure side of the membrane is suitably best defined by the general term “a semi-permeable material”.

In view of the fact that most power plants normally provide more power output than required at a specific point of time, it will be appreciated that a temporary power loss of say 5-10% will not be critical, which implies that the plurality of membranes (or membrane modules) required in such a plant can be subjected to maintenance, i.e. cleaning, by performing cleaning operation on the membranes successively, or the membranes as groups.

According to the present invention the method comprises introducing a plug of a second type of water on the first side of the membrane to alter concentration of dissolved substance(s) in water of a first type thereat, said second type of water having a concentration of dissolved substance(s) lower than that of the first type of water, and creating a PRO pressure backwash function with the water of the second type from the first to the second side of the membrane by applying the high pressure of the water of the first type on said first side onto the plug of water of the second type.

Further embodiments of the method will appear from the attached sub-claims as well the detailed disclosure with reference to the attached drawing figures.

According to the present invention, the system comprises: a time controllable first valve or pump connected between an input to the low pressure side of the membrane and an input to the high pressure side of the membrane, said first valve or pump operable to selectively deliver a plug of a second type of water to the first side of the membrane to alter concentration of dissolved substance(s) in water of a first type thereat, thereby creating a PRO pressure backwash function with the water of the second type from the first to the second side of the membrane pressurized on said first side by the high pressure of water of the first type applied onto the plug of water of the second type, said second type of water having a concentration of dissolved substance(s) lower than that of the first type of water. This implies that the PRO pressure backwash function is provided by use of the water of the second type from the first to the second side of the membrane pressurized on the first side by the high pressure of the first type of water that already exists because of the PRO process and can be supplied from either upstream or downstream of the membrane module in the hydraulic flow line for the first type of water. In other words, there is used an already existing pressure available on the first side of the membrane. Thus, no hydraulic pressure is created particularly for the backwashing operation.

Further embodiments of the system will appear from the attached sub-claims as well the detailed disclosure with reference to the attached drawing figures.

In the description below of the present invention and with reference to the attached drawings, the following abbreviations will be used for the various water flows:

SW=a first type of water, e.g. sea water

FW=a second type of water

FB=bleed of a second type of water, e.g. fresh water bleed

SW side=first side

FW side=second side

FIG. 1aillustrates in general terms the prior art PRO power plant disclosed in Norwegian Patent 314575 having a pressurised SW inlet11and a FW inlet12. Typically the prior art SW pressure is in the vicinity of 12 bar at the inlet to the membrane module and the FW pressure is less than 0,5 bar, which implies in this example that the BW pressure will be less than 0,5 bar lower than the SW pressure at the entry to the membrane module. These pressure figures are however just typical examples, and should not in any way be considered to be limitative to the scope of the present invention which to be further described. One or more membranes13′ are present in a membrane module or membrane rig13. In a practical embodiment of a PRO power plant it will be understood that a plurality of such modules or rigs will be used. Due to the PRO process, the outlet14on the high pressure side of the module will deliver BW at a pressure somewhat lower 12 bar, e.g. less than 0.5 bar lower, and in the typical example also mentioned in the introduction, approximately ⅔ of the BW will pass to a BW outlet15via a pressure exchanger16which provides for pressure application to the SW inlet11. The remaining ⅓ of the BW will pass through a turbine17to BW outlet18. The FB from the membrane module through the low pressure outlet19will typically have in the present example a pressure less than 0.5 bar and somewhat below the FW pressure.

FIG. 1billustrates a variant of the embodiment ofFIG. 1a.FIG. 1bshows a sub-surface or sub-sea PRO power plant, as further shown and described in connection withFIG. 11. It is noted at the pressure exchanger16as shown onFIG. 1ais no longer present, as the submerging of the power plant makes installation of a pressure exchanger16unnecessary. In a sub-surface or submerged power plant, FW having high pressure is directed via the turbine17′, which is located on the FW side of the membrane rig13upstream thereof and then directly to the FW side of the membrane rig13.

In the following drawing figures, the turbine17has for simplicity reason not been shown, as it does not form part of the backwash operation. It should however be considered present. Although just one membrane module is shown, it will be appreciated that two or more modules or rigs may be present. A single pressure exchanger may operate on one module, although preferably there will be several modules connected to each pressure exchanger. This means that preferably several modules will be subjected to PRO pressure backwash simultaneously.

FIG. 2aillustrates the basic concept of the present invention. A plug21of FW has been injected into the SW flow and for the time that FW moves through the membrane to the low pressure side of the membrane (i.e. low pressure side of the membrane module, the osmotic process will stop. Accordingly, the FW will be pressed by the high pressure SW, which has a pressure higher than the pressure on the low pressure side of the membrane, through the membrane like backwash in common membrane filtration. It will be appreciated that if salt water or SW had been present on the normally low pressure side of the membrane as indicated by arrow22, reverse flux could be increased, but the SW would need to diffuse or penetrate into the membrane structure first.

All the alternatives that are described below utilize one or two effects to achieve backwash:

Injection of FW in a section of, or the complete length of the membrane module13and thereby locally removing the osmotic driving force. The pressure in the SW line is maintained in the PRO power plant because the PRO process continues in other modules/rigs of the power plant. This pressure will force the water flux through the membrane in the opposite direction compared to PRO, thereby backwashing the membrane locally, as indicated onFIG. 2a. The opposite flux will drain water from, instead of feed water into the SW-side of the membrane. Thus the amount of brackish water from the backwashed modules/rigs will temporarily drop.

If SW is injected to the FW-side of the membrane in the location as FW is injected to the SW-side, there will be an osmotic force to drive water from the SW-side to the FW-side of the membrane. The resulting (osmotic) flux will come in addition to the backwards flux generated by the PRO pressure in the SW pipe, thereby increasing the total backwash water flux. The osmotic force will need some time to act because salt must diffuse into the membrane. This diffusion needs in the order of one minute, about the same time as the flow time through the module during PRO.

The exemplary embodiments to be discussed with reference to the drawings are in no manner to be considered exhaustive of the inventive concept, but are merely included to explain how the present invention could be put to practise.

In the PRO process a normal pressure of 4-30 bar could be present in the SW feed-in11and a pressure less than 1 bar, suitably less than 0.5 bar, in the FW feed-in12. Suitably the higher pressure would be in the more restricted range 8-16 bar, and in experiments made the pressure has been 0-20 bar, but typically 12 bar. The pressures at the BW and FB outlets14,19are suitably less than 0.5 bar below the respective SW and FW inlets11,12. These pressure levels can be maintained by modules/rigs that still are maintained in PRO operation. The local backwash in the PRO plant should be achieved with a minimum of valves, pumps and power loss, and from the disclosure to follow it will be appreciated that the invention offers a very efficient and simple backwash operation.

Whether backwashing is to take place in a whole module or only a section of its length at a time will have to be decided upon based on the actual structure of the module and/or the structure and operation of the power plant. Similarly, operational conditions and the power plant structure will dictate whether backwashing is to be carried out simultaneously in a few modules, just in one module/rig at a time or in a large number of modules/rigs simultaneously.

FIG. 2billustrates PRO, the arrow23indicating osmotic water flux and Cs indicating concentration of salt in the module13relative to the membrane13′, where13″ indicates diffusion skin and13′″ indicates a porous structure. Whether the porous structure is layered or of other configuration, dependent materials of structure used, is unimportant in the present context as regards the understanding of the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2cillustrates backwash, reference numeral24indicating backwash flux driven by hydraulic pressure generated by PRO in the power plant.

FIG. 2dillustrates enhanced backwash, reference numeral25indicating backwash flux driven by hydraulic pressure generated by PRO in the power plant and additionally local osmosis.

More detailed examples are now to be explained with reference toFIGS. 3-9.

FIG. 3is the simplest version of the invention. Reference numeral31denotes a high-pressure volumetric pump with built-in no-return valve (e.g. like piston pumps) that “injects” a given amount of FW in a given time interval into the SW-side of the membrane. Hydraulic pressure is maintained at this side by the SW feed line11in PRO operation. The energy to the pump31is recovered in the turbine (minus efficiency loss).

Thus, in the embodiment ofFIG. 3, there is introduced by means of the pump31a plug of FW on the first side or FW side of the membrane of module13′ to alter concentration of dissolved substance(s) (in effect: salinity) in SW thereat, and PRO pressure backwash function is thereby created with FW from the first side (SW side) to the second side (FW side) of the membrane by using the high pressure of SW on said first side to pressurize said plug of FW. This basic principle is also valid for the embodiments ofFIGS. 4-9.

FIG. 4illustrates the principle of osmosis enhanced PRO pressure backwash.

The pump41has the same function as pump31inFIG. 3. However, at the same time the pump41operates, a valve44operates to inject SW to the FW side of the membrane13′ in module13and which enhances the backwash function by adding an osmotic driving force and flux to the PRO pressure backwash, as illustrated inFIG. 2d.

In this embodiment a valve54and a valve55shut off SW and BW, respectively. Subsequent opening of a valve56releases the pressure on the SW side of the membrane13′ in module13and allows FW to flow to this side (SW side) of the membrane13′ through an opened valve51. When valves51and56are subsequently closed and valves54and55are opened, a backwash function will be created. As shown by dotted lines, optionally SW can be led to the FW-side of the membrane by means of a further valve57from the SW feed-in pipe to the FW inlet to add osmotic flux. However, this latter option will add to the number of valves required, the plant complexity and cost.

FIG. 6aillustrates backwash by exchanged PRO pressure, using a pump61to provide the plug of FW to the SW side of the membrane13′.

The pump61is a suitably low-pressure pump that has sufficient pumping power to overcome the pressure in SW feed line11upstream of the pressure exchanger16and therefore replace SW with a plug of FW in the liquid feed to the exchanger16, thereby injecting FW to the SW side of the membrane13′. The operation is quite similar to the embodiment ofFIG. 3, except that only a low-pressure type pump61is needed and the power loss in the power plant is smaller.

FIG. 7illustrates backwash by exchanged PRO pressure, using assistance from a pair of valves71and74instead of the pump61inFIG. 6a.

The valve74shuts off the SW feed-in to the pressure exchanger16and FW is led to the pressure exchanger16by opening the valve71. Otherwise the principle is similar to that ofFIG. 6. Subsequently, after the plug of FW has been introduced to the SW side, the valve71will close and valve74will open.

FIG. 6b, being a sub-surface variant of the embodiment ofFIG. 6a, has similar operation to the embodiment ofFIG. 6aas regards backwash function. However, it is noted, as discussed in relation toFIGS. 1band11, that the turbine17′ is located on the FW side of the membrane13′ upstream thereof.

FIG. 6balso provides backwash by existing PRO pressure, using a pump61to provide the plug of FW to the SW side of the membrane13. The pump61is a suitably low-pressure pump that has sufficient pumping power to overcome the pressure in SW feed line11upstream of the membrane and therefore replace SW with a plug of FW in the liquid feed to the high pressure side of the membrane13′, thereby injecting FW to the SW side of the membrane13′. The operation is thus quite similar to the embodiment ofFIG. 6a, however with the difference that there is a sub-surface installation which in effect makes the pressure exchanger16superfluous, and also similar to the embodiment ofFIG. 3, except that only a low-pressure type pump61is needed and the power loss in the power plant is smaller.

The embodiments ofFIGS. 8 and 9are both related to osmosis-enhanced PRO pressure backwash.

InFIG. 8the embodiment is pump operated as regards the injection of a plug of FW to the SW side of the membrane13′. Thus, injection of FW to the SW-side of the membrane is achieved by a low-pressure pump81like the type of pump61depicted inFIG. 6. When the pump81operates, a valve84will operate to lead SW to the FW side of the membrane13′, which enhances the backwash by adding an osmotic driving force and flux to the PRO pressure backwash, as disclosed inFIG. 2d.

In theFIG. 9embodiment the pump81ofFIG. 8is replaced by two valves91and94. The injection of FW to the SW side of the membrane13′ is thus achieved as in the embodiment ofFIG. 7. The valve94closes and the valve91opens in order to introduce a plug of FW to the inlet of the pressure exchanger and subsequently to the SW side of the membrane13′. At the same time a valve95leads SW to the FW side of the membrane13′, adding an osmotic driving force and flux to the PRO pressure backwash, as in the embodiment ofFIG. 8. Subsequently, after the plug of FW has been introduced to the SW side, the valves91and95will close and the valve94will open.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the plug of FW injected on the SW side of the membrane will require that SW high pressure is subsequently there to forcibly push the FW plug from the SW side to FW side of the membrane.

InFIGS. 3 through 9there has been indicated a valve32,42,52,62,72,82and92, respectively, the operation of which is to inject a disinfecting agent DA into the plug of FW when the latter is injected to the SW side of the membrane.

InFIGS. 3 through 9there has also been indicated a valve33,43,53,63,73,83and93, respectively, the operation of which is to inject a disinfecting agent DA into the FW so as to let the DA enter the membrane13′ from the low pressure side, i.e. the FW side, thereof a predetermined time prior to injecting said plug of FW to the SW side of the membrane13′. The advantage of this disinfecting operation is that the DA will move into the membrane13′ and be stopped by the diffusion skin13″, and when the backwashing commences with FW moving from the SW side to FW side of the membrane13′, bacteria and other undesirable micro-organisms located in the membrane13′ will be flushed out together with the DA.

DA provided to the SW side of the membrane13′, i.e. to the SW side of the diffusion skin will merely take care of bacteria and other undesirable micro-organisms on the surface there of. Thus, DA can be applied to either side of the membrane13′ or just one, as deemed necessary. Suitably, said DA is a chlorine solution, although other agents may be used.

FIG. 10illustrates a control and processing unit101which may operate automatically according to a maintenance program or have overriding means102to enable manual control by an operator (not shown). A display103is suitably provided to enable an operator to monitor how a backwash operation progresses in the power plant. The unit101has outputs to control operation of the pumps and valves as required, i.e. to control start and stop of the pumps and opening and closing of the valves as required. The unit101can suitable have a microprocessor or PC structure, governed by suitable software and/or firmware.

FIG. 11illustrates a continuously operating sub-surface PRO power plant. FW feed111is provided to a turbine112(similar to the turbine17′ onFIGS. 1band6b) from a FW supply113, e.g. a river. A module rig114(similar to membrane rig13) is on the FW side connected to the outlet from the turbine112, and the FW bleed FB115from the module rig114is directed to a SW reservoir116, e.g. the sea. SW feed117enters the high pressure side of the membrane rig114and exits the membrane rig114as BW which is fed via line118back to the reservoir116.

Although just one module rig114is shown onFIG. 11, and also on other drawing figures, it will be understood that a plurality or even a substantial plurality of membrane modules13;114would normally be involved in the operation of a PRO power plant.

Further, it will be appreciated that the principles of backwash operation as disclosed in connection withFIGS. 5,6a,7,8and9will apply equally well in case the turbine instead is located on the FW upstream side of the membrane rig, thus implying that backwash operation is to be made on a sub-surface installation, rather than on a surface installation.