Abstract:
The disclosure provides a desalination system comprising an energy source, a pump, an accumulator and at least one desalination unit, the pump being coupled to the energy source to provide a pressurized feed of water downstream towards the at least one desalination unit, wherein the feed of water from the pump passes through the accumulator before reaching the at least one desalination unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a water desalination system and to systems that store pressurized fluid that may be used utilized in the desalination system. 
         [0002]    In a water desalination system, a pump is normally used to feed water to the system. In reverse osmosis (RO) desalination systems, for example, this water supply is fed to membranes that in turn remove ionic, organic and/or suspended solids from the water supply. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The following embodiment and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. 
         [0004]    In an embodiment is provided a desalination system comprising an energy source, a pump, an accumulator and at least one desalination unit, the pump being coupled to the energy source to provide a pressurized feed of water downstream towards the at least one desalination unit, wherein the feed of water from the pump passes through the accumulator before reaching the at least one desalination unit. 
         [0005]    In an embodiment, the accumulator is adapted to store at least part of the feed of water under pressure. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment, the energy source is a renewable or clean energy source. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, the energy source is a tank comprising pressurized fluid, and wherein said pressurized fluid is adapted to power the pump. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the tank is a replaceable tank, said tank being adapted to receive its fluid at a location other than the location of the system. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the energy source is a closed system, said closed system comprising a means urging fluid via a condenser and an evaporator, wherein the pump of the desalination system is located between the condenser and the evaporator for utilizing the flow of fluid in the closed system to pump water into the desalination system. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment is also provided a method for the desalination of water comprising the steps of: providing a desalination system comprising a pump, an accumulator and at least one desalination unit, the pump forming a feed of water being urged downstream towards the at least one desalination unit via the accumulator, wherein at least part of the water is accumulated in the accumulator. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, the accumulator comprises first and second sections, the first section holding fluid and the second section being adapted to receive the feed of water. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment is provided a storage system is provided, said storage system comprising an energy source, a compressor and a tank, the compressor being powered by the energy source to compress fluid into the tank, wherein the tank is adapted to provide energy to the pump of the desalination system. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment is provided a storage system is provided, said storage system comprising an energy source, a compressor and a tank, the compressor being powered by the energy source to compress fluid into the tank, wherein the tank is adapted to provide pressurized fluid to the first section of the accumulator. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment is provided the storage system is located at a location other than the desalination system, and wherein the energy source of the storage system is a renewable or clean energy source. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment is provided is also provided a system comprising an energy source, a compressor a first tank, a second tank and a power utility; the energy source providing energy to the compressor to thereby urge fluid to flow downstream in a closed loop through the first and second tanks and back to the compressor, wherein the system comprises a condenser located upstream of the first tank and an evaporator located upstream of the second tank, and wherein the power utility is located downstream of the first tank and utilizes the flow of fluid exiting the first tank to provide an output power. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, the fluid is a refrigerant fluid. 
         [0017]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiment described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0018]    Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive. The disclosure, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a water desalination system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a storage system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a closed loop storage system in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated within the figures to indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Attention is drawn to  FIG. 1 . A desalination system  100  has an energy source  10 , a pump  12 , a pressure storage system  82  in the form of an accumulator and desalination units  18 . The energy source  10  provides energy to the pump  12  that in turn pumps water  11  downstream towards the desalination units  18 . This water, which is optionally salt water, passes through the accumulator where it is optionally accumulated under pressure. 
         [0024]    The accumulator is optionally of the type having a first section  15  that holds fluid and an adjacent second section  14  that is adapted to receive the incoming water. It should be noted that directional terms appearing throughout the specification and claims, e.g. “downstream”, “upstream” etc., (and derivatives thereof) are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0025]    The water on its way to the accumulator passes optionally through a non return valve  13  of the system  100  before entering the second section  14  of the accumulator. A regulating device  16  of the system  100 , located downstream of the accumulator, regulates the flow of water out of the accumulator and downstream towards the desalination units  18 . A filter  17  of the system  100 , located downstream of the regulator  16 , filters the water before it enters the desalination units  18 . 
         [0026]    The energy source  10  is optionally a renewable/clean energy source such as for example a wind turbine or a solar panel. The water pumped into the accumulator enters section  14 , fills it up and then starts to expand section  14  into the volume previously occupied by section  15 . The fluid stored in section  15  is compressed and thereby imposes pressure upon the water stored in section  14  of the accumulator. 
         [0027]    Attention is drawn to  FIG. 2 . In an aspect of the disclosure is provided a fluid storage system  120  that has an energy source  31  that powers a compressor  33  that in turn compresses fluid  32  downstream via non return valve  34  into a fluid tank  35 . Optionally, the fluid in system  120  is air. 
         [0028]    In an embodiment, a controller is coupled to a pressure gauge  36  on tank  35  and affects the exit of fluid downstream from tank  35  by controlling the opening and/or closing of valve  38 . At a given fluid pressure in tank  35 , the controller may open valve  38  to allow fluid to exit tank  35  via regulator  37 . This fluid for example may flow through generator  40  and out  39  of the system to thereby optionally produce output energy  41 . 
         [0029]    It is noted that system  120  may be located at a location where the source powering the energy source  31  is available and/or optimal. For example, the source may be wind and energy source  31  may be a wind turbine. In this example system  120  may be located at a location where wind is optimal. 
         [0030]    In an embodiment of the disclosure, the fluid compressed into tank  35  may be stored in tank  35  for later use at another location where for example the desalination system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  is located. System  100  may be for example located adjacent a water source and the system  120  may be for example located on a mountain top where wind is optimal. 
         [0031]    In one example, the fluid stored under pressure in tank  35  may be urged into section  15  of the accumulator shown in  FIG. 1  via valve  5  of the accumulator. In another example, tank  35  may replace energy source  10  of system  100  in  FIG. 1  by providing an input of pressurized fluid that powers pump  12  of system  100  to pump water downstream. 
         [0032]    Attention is drawn to  FIG. 3 . In an aspect of the disclosure is provided a closed loop storage system  130 . System  130  has an energy source  81  that is optionally a renewable/clean energy source. The energy source  81  is coupled to a pump  82  that is located on the system. Downstream of the pump  82 , in a counter clock wise direction, are provided in sequence the following main elements which are in fluid communication one with the other. A condenser  83 , a non return valve  84 , a first tank  87 , a regulating device  88 , a power utility  90 , an evaporator  93  and a second tank  95 . Fluid passing via pump  82  flows passed the above mentioned elements to return back to flow via pump  82  to form a closed loop. Optionally, the fluid in system  130  is a refrigerant fluid. 
         [0033]    Energy provided by energy source  81  powers pump  82  to pump fluid downstream. As the fluid passes via condenser  83  it cools down, optionally condensing from gas into liquid, and enters first tank  87  via non return valve  84 . A controller of the system  130  is coupled to: pump  82 , to a thermometer  85 , to a pressure gauge  86 , to a control valve  89  and to power utility  90 . Thermometer  85  is located downstream of first tank  87  and measures the temperature of the fluid flowing therein and pressure gauge  86  is located on first tank  87  and measures the pressure of fluid therein. 
         [0034]    The controller controls the flow of fluid out of first tank  87  by the opening and/or closing of control valve  89 . By opening valve  89 , fluid flows out of first tank  87  via regulating device  88  to flow passed power utility  90  to produce an output power  91 . As the fluid flows onwards downstream from power utility  90  it passes via evaporator  93 , optionally vaporizing from liquid into gas, and into second tank  95 . From there the fluid continues to flow back to pump  82  and so on. 
         [0035]    It is noted that the condenser and its associated first tank and the evaporator and its associated second tank form a carnot type cycle in system  130  that improves the efficiency of system  130  and the flow rate of fluid flowing therein that provides work. 
         [0036]    In an embodiment, system  130  may be coupled to the desalination system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  to optionally replace energy source  10  of system  100 . In this example, power utility  90  is pump  12  of system  100  and the output power  91  is the water being pumped downstream into system  100 . 
         [0037]    As already mentioned, the energy sources described herein above are optionally renewable/clean energy sources such as for example wind turbines or solar panels. Such energy sources are adapted to provide energy as long as the renewable/clean sources they utilize (e.g. wind, sun . . . ) are available. The ability of such energy sources to store their energy optionally in the form of pressure enables systems such as the desalination system  100  to utilize such a renewable/clean energy for duration of time that is longer than the time that the source (wind, sun) is available. 
         [0038]    In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb. Although the present embodiment has been described to a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that various alterations and modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as hereinafter claimed.