This video describes the design of a novel membrane module for reverse osmosis applications such as seawater desalination. It achieves operation at the minimum possible pumping energy by employing rotation of the module to create a centrifugal pressure that increases with increasing distance from the axis-of-rotation. Hence, water permeation through the membranes in the module occurs at a pressure only slightly above the minimum required for reverse osmosis. Centrifugal Reverse Osmosis is advantageous relative to competitive technologies such as the Closed-Circuit Reverse Osmosis process because it is a continuous rather than a batch process and does not incur any energy losses owing to recirculation of the feed on the high-pressure side of the membranes and owing to mixing fresh feed with the higher concentration recirculating feed. Centrifugal Reverse Osmosis can reduce the specific energy consumption relative to conventional reverse osmosis by 45% for a 67% water recovery. Nanyang Technology University has been awarded a PCT patent for Centrifugal Reverse Osmosis and now is seeking an industry partner to advance this technology to the marketplace.

свернуть