The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 24, 2022
Filed:
Mar. 29, 2016
Compass Minerals Ogden Inc., Overland Park, KS (US);
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (US);
Kerri L. Hickenbottom, Golden, CO (US);
Tzahi Cath, Golden, CO (US);
Daniel K. Pannell, Overland Park, KS (US);
Jerry Poe, Hutchinson, KS (US);
Corey R. Milne, Ogden, UT (US);
Compass Minerals Ogden Inc., Overland Park, KS (US);
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (US);
Abstract
A novel method of producing concentrated streams or otherwise useful hypersaline brines from a source of non-potable or otherwise impaired water is provided. The method comprises feeding the source water into the feed side of a membrane distillation unit while simultaneously feeding a distillate stream through the receiving side of the distillation unit. The feed and receiving sides are separated by a hydrophobic, microporous membrane that allows water vapor to flux through the membrane to the receiving side. As the membrane becomes clogged with particulates, the unit can be subjected to stream flow reversal and/or temperature gradient reversal in order to remove those particulates and restore previous vapor flux levels, after which previous operations can be resumed.