Patent ID: 12203461

While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The present disclosure should not be understood to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A variable leverage pump for water desalination is disclosed. It will be appreciated that, for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details.

Wave Driven Variable Leverage Pump

Embodiments of a variable leverage pump are described herein. A variable leverage pump may use buoyant forces and inertial forces to pump water (e.g., seawater). As an example, a variable leverage pump may use wave power to pump seawater at high pressures (e.g., pressures exceeding 800 pounds per square inch (PSI)). As described herein, a reverse osmosis process can be used to desalinate and produce potable water. Accordingly, a variable leverage pump as described herein may be used to pump water (e.g., seawater) through a reverse osmosis membrane for desalination purposes.

In some embodiments, a variable leverage pump (also referred to herein as a “variable leverage actuator”) may include a paddle. The paddle may be a buoyant (e.g., floating) paddle. The paddle may be coupled (e.g., attached) to one or more levers. A fulcrum of each of the one or more levers may be pivotally coupled (e.g., attached) to a platform. As an example, the platform may be a stable platform positioned adjacent to (e.g., resting on) a floor of a body of water (e.g., sea floor). In some cases, the variable leverage pump may be submerged in a body of water (e.g., ocean) to a suitable depth such that the paddle floats near the surface of the water.

FIGS.1A and1Bare illustrations of an exemplary variable leverage pump100. The variable leverage pump100may include a paddle101, one or more levers102, a pump103(also referred to as a piston103), one or more lever fulcrums104, a piston rod105, a force coupling106, a pump fulcrum107, and a platform108. As shown inFIG.1A, the paddle101may be coupled to the levers102aand102b(referred to collectively as the levers102). In some cases, the paddle101may be an elliptic solid or other shape. The paddle101may have at least a threshold level of buoyancy to support the weight of the levers102(e.g., when the variable leverage pump100is submerged in water). Each of the levers102may be coupled (e.g., pivotally coupled) to a platform108by a respective lever fulcrum104. As shown inFIG.1A, the levers102aand102bmay be pivotally coupled to the platform108by respective lever fulcrums104aand104b(collectively referred to as lever fulcrums104). The levers102may rotate about the respective lever fulcrums104.

In some embodiments, the paddle101may be coupled (e.g., pivotally coupled) to the piston rod105by the force coupling106. The piston rod105may be coupled to the pump103(also referred to as a “piston”). The pump103may be a single action pump, such that the pump103may only generate pressure when the piston rod105into the pump103(e.g., during deflection of the paddle101from a vertical position). The pump103may be coupled (e.g., pivotally coupled) to the platform108by a pump fulcrum107. The pump103may rotate about the pump fulcrum107. Based on the coupling of the paddle101, the levers102, the pump103, the piston rod105, and the platform108, the levers102may actuate the piston rod105within the pump103. The levers102may rotate and cause actuation of the piston rod105within the pump103based on rotational movement of the paddle101. Actuating the piston rod105within the pump103may cause the pump103to pressurize a fluid (e.g., water) available to the pump103.

In some embodiments, paddle101may include and/or be comprised of a buoyant material, including a fiberglass material (e.g., a low mass fiberglass material). Each lever102may include and/or be comprised of a stainless steel and/or monel alloy material. The pump103and the piston rod105may each include and/or be comprised of a stainless steel and/or a monel alloy material. In some cases, the platform108may include mortar and/or plaster (e.g. cement) materials. In some cases, the platform108may include one or more metal (e.g., steel, iron, etc.) structures. The platform108may be comprised of a ferro-cement material including mortar and/or plaster materials combined with the metal structure(s).

In some cases, a reverse osmosis membrane may be coupled to the pump103. An example of a reverse osmosis membrane used with the variable leverage pump100may be a Model M-S2521A membrane manufactured by Applied Membranes, Inc. The reverse osmosis membrane may have a threshold pressure of 800 PSI, such that a fluid (e.g., water) may flow through the membrane when the fluid is applied to a side of the membrane at a minimum pressure of 800 PSI. A housing may include the reverse osmosis membrane and may be coupled to the pump103. A housing including the membrane may include and/or be comprised of a stainless steel and/or monel alloy material. An example of a housing include a reverse osmosis membrane that is used with the variable leverage pump100may be a housing manufactured by Spectra Watermakers, Inc.

In some embodiments, the lever fulcrums104corresponding to the levers102can be positioned at a distance above the pump fulcrum107corresponding to the pump103. The lever fulcrums104may be positioned above the pump fulcrum107relative to the platform108. Such positioning enables the variable leverage capabilities of the variable leverage pump100, which can be advantageous for extracting power from variable waves when the variable leverage pump100is submerged underwater. Variable waves may refer to waves of a varying amplitude and/or a varying period.

In some embodiments, when the variable leverage pump100is submerged underwater, wave motion can act on the paddle101. Wave motion may act on the paddle101in multiple ways, including by buoyancy forces and inertial forces. Buoyancy forces may be forces that move the paddle101and levers102into a vertical (e.g., upright) position. Inertial forces may be forces that deflect the paddle101and levers102from the vertical position toward a horizontal position. The inertial forces may deflect the paddle101, thereby producing a downward force on the piston rod105through the force coupling106. The downward force on the piston rod105via the force coupling106may actuate the piston rod105, thereby pressurizing the pump103. Actuating the pump103may cause water (e.g., seawater) included in and/or available to the pump103to be forced through the reverse osmosis membrane as described herein. For example, when the variable leverage pump100is submerged underwater, actuation of the piston rod105in the pump103by wave forces (e.g., including inertial forces) can force water through a reverse osmosis membrane based on the pump103pressurizing the water with a threshold level of pressure (e.g., 800 PSI).

In some embodiments, when the paddle101is positioned at a vertical position as described herein, any suitable wave may act on the paddle101, move (e.g., displace) the paddle101, and generate a pressure in the pump103. Waves that apply a greater force to the paddle101may cause increased displacement of the paddle101and the levers102from a vertical position. An optimal force applied to the paddle101may be a force that causes a maximum displacement of the paddle101from a vertical position (e.g., toward a horizontal position). A maximum force that may be applied to the pump103(e.g., via the piston rod105) may be a function of the area of the pump103(e.g., the area through which the piston rod105is actuated) and a pressure threshold corresponding to the reverse osmosis membrane coupled to the pump103. As an example, the maximum force that can be applied to the pump103may be defined as the area of the pump103multiplied by the threshold pressure of the membrane, where the threshold pressure of the membrane may be 800 PSI.

With respect toFIG.1B, when the paddle101, levers102, pump103, and piston rod105are positioned in a vertical (e.g., upright) position120, the mechanical advantage of the variable leverage pump100approaches infinity as motion on the pump103via the piston rod105approaches zero. As the paddle101is deflected (e.g., via inertial forces) from the vertical position120toward a horizontal position, the mechanical advantage becomes proportionally less and piston rod105motion increases.FIG.1Billustrates a relationship between deflection and mechanical advantage for the variable leverage pump100.

In some embodiments, with respect toFIG.1B, a geometric center of the paddle101may be referred to as a center of effort109. The length of a lever102may be referred to as L. The length between the lever fulcrum104and the force coupling106may be referred to as L′. The vertical distance (e.g., the fulcrum offset) between the lever fulcrum104and the pump fulcrum107may be referred to as E. A variable load arm may be referred to as T, which may be defined by Equation 1 as:

T=tan⁢(∅′)⁢L′(1)

The angle Ø′ may be an angle between the lever102and the piston rod105as shown inFIG.1B. The angle Ø may be an angle of the center of effort109of the paddle101relative to the vertical position120as shown inFIG.1B, which may be referred to as paddle deflection. When the center of effort109of the paddle101is positioned at the vertical position120, the angle Ø may be 0°. When the center of effort109of the paddle101is positioned parallel to the platform108, the angle Ø may be 90°. The leverage at the force coupling106may be defined by Equation 2 as:

Leverage⁢=LT(2)

As the paddle101and lever(s)102are deflected further from the vertical position120, T becomes greater and the leverage at the force coupling106is reduced accordingly. When the paddle deflection angle Ø is 90°, T may be equivalent to E, where E is the fulcrum offset. The minimum leverage of the variable leverage pump100may be defined by Equation 3 as:

Minimum⁢Leverage⁢=LE(3)

The greater the deflection of the lever(s)102from the vertical position120(e.g., as measured by the paddle deflection angle Ø), the greater the force required to move the lever(s)102from the vertical position120. As an example, when the variable leverage pump100is submerged underwater, smaller, less forceful waves can actuate the piston rod105within the pump103with small deflections of the lever(s)102. Larger, more forceful waves can actuate the piston rod105within the pump103with large deflections of the lever(s)102. Waves may deflect the paddle101and lever(s)102until an equilibrium is reached between force of the wave and a resistance of the pump103. The force of waves and the resistance of the pump103can form a system of automatic power matching. Based on the paddle101and lever(s)102being deflected from the vertical position120, the buoyancy of the paddle101can move and return the unloaded paddle101and the lever(s)102to the vertical position120.

In some cases, when the variable leverage pump100is submerged underwater, a cavity on which the pump103acts (e.g., included in the pump103) may fill with water. The cavity (e.g., cavity included in the pump103) may completely fill with water when the paddle101and lever(s)102are positioned at the vertical position120. When the paddle101and lever(s)102are deflected from the vertical position120(e.g., based on forces from waves), the pump103may force the water included in the pump103through a reverse osmosis membrane (e.g., for desalination) and out of the pump103, thereby reducing the amount of water included in the pump103. The cavity of the pump103may refill with water as the unloaded paddle101and lever(s)102return to the vertical position120(e.g., due to the buoyancy of the paddle101) and the piston rod105is moved out of the pump103.

In an example, the variable leverage pump100may include lever(s)102of length L=20 feet and a fulcrum offset E=2 feet. For such an example, the leverage range of the variable leverage pump100may be 8 to less than ∝. A one-ton inertial wave force applied to the paddle101and lever(s)102can generate a minimum piston rod105force of 16 tons. Each full stroke of the piston rod105may be equivalent to the fulcrum offset E of 2 feet. For a six-inch diameter pump103, a pressure of over 1100 PSI could be produced, which could require that a variable leverage pump100include a platform108of at least approximately 60 feet in length. Such a variable leverage pump100may be capable of producing several thousand gallons of desalinated water on a daily basis.

In another example, the variable leverage pump100may include lever(s)102of length L=20 feet, a fulcrum offset E=2 feet, a diameter of 5 inches for the pump103, a stroke length of 3 feet for the pump103, and a platform108having dimensions of 60 feet by 30 feet. For such a variable leverage pump100, when the paddle101is moved 45° from the vertical position120(e.g., moved to half deflection) for each stroke of the pump103at 4 seconds per stroke, the piston rod105can move approximately 1 foot to cause the pump103to pump approximately 1 gallon of water through the reverse osmosis membrane per stroke. For a period where the variable leverage pump100operates for 24 hours at 4 seconds per stroke, the variable leverage pump100may operate at approximately 21,600 strokes per day and pump approximately 21,600 gallons of water through the reverse osmosis membrane. In some cases, approximately 80% of the pumped water will yield potable water, such that the variable leverage pump100yields approximately 17,280 gallons of potable water over the 24 period.

FIG.2is an illustration of an exemplary desalination system200corresponding to a variable leverage pump, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown inFIG.2, the desalination system200can include an intake202, a pre-filter206, a pump210, a reverse osmosis membrane214, a water output218, and a brine output222. The intake202may be coupled to the pre-filter206. The pre-filter206may be coupled to the intake202and the pump210. The pump210may be coupled to the pre-filter206and the reverse osmosis membrane214. The reverse osmosis membrane214may be coupled to the pump210and may include a water output218and a brine output222. The pre-filter206and the reverse osmosis membrane214may be each be included in a respective housing. Each housing may be coupled to the pump210by one or more connectors (e.g., brackets).

In some embodiments, the pump210may include and/or otherwise be coupled to a piston rod212. The pump210may include any and/or all features of a pump (e.g., pump103) as described herein. In some cases, the pump210may be analogous to the pump103described herein with respect toFIGS.1A and1B. The piston rod212may include any and/or all features of a piston rod (e.g., piston rod105) as described herein. In some cases, the piston rod212may be analogous to the piston rod105described herein with respect toFIGS.1A and1B. The pump210and the piston rod212may be part of a variable leverage pump (e.g., variable leverage pump100) as described herein. The piston rod212may be actuated within the pump210via a paddle (e.g., paddle101), thereby causing water to be forced through the reverse osmosis membrane214for desalination purposes.

In some embodiments, the desalination system200may be submerged underwater and may desalinate water received via the intake202. The directional arrows shown inFIG.2display an exemplary direction of water flow through the desalination system200. When the desalination system200is submerged underwater, water may flow into the intake202. After flowing into the intake202, the water may flow through the pre-filter206. The pre-filter206may filter debris and/or any other foreign objects from the water. After the pre-filter206filters the water that flows through the pre-filter206, the water may flow to the pump210. The water may flow to and fill a cavity corresponding to the pump210. In some cases, the water may remain at the pump210and may not flow through the reverse osmosis membrane214. A threshold amount of pressure may be required to be applied to the water (e.g., by the pump210) to cause the water to flow through the reverse osmosis membrane214. As an example, a threshold amount of water pressure required for the water to flow through the membrane may be 800 PSI.

In some cases, the piston rod212may actuate within the pump210, thereby applying pressure to the water stored at the pump210. Actuating the piston rod212within the pump210may pressurize the water and force the pressurized water through the reverse osmosis membrane214. The water that flows through the reverse osmosis membrane214may be fresh, potable water. The potable water may exit the housing for the reverse osmosis membrane214through a water output218. The water output218may be coupled to a storage tank and/or any suitable vessel configured to receive the potable water. In some cases, a brine including substances that are not permeable through the reverse osmosis membrane214may exit the housing for the reverse osmosis membrane214through the brine output222.

Terminology

The phrasing and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Measurements, sizes, amounts, and the like may be presented herein in a range format. The description in range format is provided merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as 1-20 meters should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as 1 meter, 2 meters, 1-2 meters, less than 2 meters, 10-11 meters, 10-12 meters, 10-13 meters, 10-14 meters, 11-12 meters, 11-13 meters, etc.

Furthermore, connections between components or systems within the figures are not intended to be limited to direct connections. Rather, data or signals between these components may be modified, re-formatted, or otherwise changed by intermediary components. Also, additional or fewer connections may be used. The terms “coupled,” “connected,” or “communicatively coupled” shall be understood to include direct connections, indirect connections through one or more intermediary devices, wireless connections, and so forth.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment,” “preferred embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention and may be in more than one embodiment. Also, the appearance of the above-noted phrases in various places in the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or embodiments.

The use of certain terms in various places in the specification is for illustration purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. A service, function, or resource is not limited to a single service, function, or resource; usage of these terms may refer to a grouping of related services, functions, or resources, which may be distributed or aggregated.

Furthermore, one skilled in the art shall recognize that: (1) certain steps may optionally be performed; (2) steps may not be limited to the specific order set forth herein; (3) certain steps may be performed in different orders; and (4) certain steps may be performed simultaneously or concurrently.

The term “approximately”, the phrase “approximately equal to”, and other similar phrases, as used in the specification and the claims (e.g., “X has a value of approximately Y” or “X is approximately equal to Y”), should be understood to mean that one value (X) is within a predetermined range of another value (Y). The predetermined range may be plus or minus 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 1%, 0.1%, or less than 0.1%, unless otherwise indicated.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements).

As used in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements).

The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and additional items.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term), to distinguish the claim elements.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Other steps or stages may be provided, or steps or stages may be eliminated, from the described processes. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the preceding examples and embodiments are exemplary and not limiting to the scope of the present disclosure. It is intended that all permutations, enhancements, equivalents, combinations, and improvements thereto that are apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings are included within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It shall also be noted that elements of any claims may be arranged differently including having multiple dependencies, configurations, and combinations.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.