Osmotek, Inc.

Edward G Beaudry

John R Herron

Carl E Jochums

Luis E Medina

In a multiple-chambered electrodialysis cell having an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, a plurality of brine chambers, and a plurality of desalinate chambers, said chambers defined by a plurality of membranes wherein the improvement comprises providing membrane supports in the brine chambers, said membrane support members of adjacent brine chambers are offset so that when the pressure of the fluid in the desalinate chambers is greater than the pressure of the brine chambers, the membranes deflect against said membrane supports, causing the desalinate chambers to become corrugated.

Turbulent flow electrodialysis cell

There is disclosed a two-chambered electrocell comprising one or a plurality of anode chambers, a crude flow inlet and a crude flow outlet communicating with the anode chamber, one or a plurality of cathode chambers, and a catholyte outlet communicating with the cathode chamber, wherein cylindrical anodes are located in the anode chamber, wherein the anode chamber is defined by a membrane having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the membrane communicates with crude fluid circulating within the anode chamber, and wherein the second side of the membrane is supported by a plurality of support members, wherein a pressure of crude fluid in the anode chamber deflects the membrane between the support members toward the cathode to form a crude flow path having a constantly changing direction, and wherein the cathode chamber is defined by the second side of the membrane and the two-chambered electrocell, and the support members and a cathode are located in the cathode chamber.

There is disclosed an osmotic concentration cell wherein the flow chamber of the osmotic concentration cell has a continually changing flow path to provide a region of high turbulence to a semipermeable membrane defining the flow chamber. High turbulence at a first semipermeable membrane interface significantly reduces membrane fouling during osmotic concentration and allows for concentration of products with high suspended solids content. The inventive osmotic concentration cell can be used for a variety of purposes including, for example, producing low alcohol wine, concentrating a thin wine into a premium wine, concentrating a low quality grape juice into a higher quality grape juice for fermenting a more premium wine, concentrating various fruit or vegetable juices, and concentrating various beverages, such as teas or coffee.

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Corvallis, OR, United States of America

Edward G Beaudry