Delbouy: Ocean wave-powered seawater reverse osmosis desalination systems

✍ Scribed by Douglas C. Hicks; George R. Mitcheson; Charles M. Pleass; James F. Salevan

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1989
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 704 KB
• Volume: 73
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-9164
• DOI: 10.1016/0011-9164(89)87006-7

✦ Synopsis

Historically, most ocean wave energy conversion systems have been designed as large scale electricity producers . Such devices require solution of serious storage, phasing, and distribution problems and usually must be of large scale for satisfactory economy .

Alternatively, an ocean wave energy system under development since 1976 directly links ocean wave power with the production of freshwater from seawater using reverse osmosis (RO) technology . The device, referred to as DELBUOY, utilizes no motors, generators or electronics and makes extensive use of engineering polymers for constructing major system components . The DELBUOY combines a wave driven buoy, linear pump and an anchor system with well proven single pass seawater RO membranes to produce potable water . The systems are modular in nature, allowing arrays to be sized to suit specific site requirements, from as little as 6 m 3 /D .