Reverse Osmosis Purification Apparatus

D.T. Bray, Reverse Osmosis Purification Apparatus, US Patent 3,417,870 (December, 1968). 

First multi-leaf spiral wound membrane module developed by Don Bray and others at Gulf General Atomic, under US Patent no. 3,417,870, "Reverse Osmosis Purification Apparatus," December, 1968. A multi-leaf spiral configuration improves the flow characteristics of the RO module by minimizing the pressure drop encountered by permeate as it spirals into the central collection tube. 

A process called reverse osmosis is used to remove salts from seawater to make drinking water for human consumption. If a pressure greater than the osmotic pressure is applied to the solution side of an apparatus such as shown in Figure 15.6, water is forced from the solution (the seawater) to the pure solvent (water) side. This process is used industrially for water purification. 

Suppose we place a semipermeable membrane between a saline (salt) solution and pure water. If the saline solution is pressurized under a greater pressure than its osmotic pressure, the direction of flow can be reversed. That is, the net flow of water molecules will be from the saline solution through the membrane into the pure water. This process is called reverse osmosis. The membrane usually consists of cellulose acetate or hollow fibers of a material structurally similar to nylon. This method has been used for the purification of brackish (mildly saline) water. It has the economic advantages of low cost, ease of apparatus construction, and simplicity of operation. Because this method of water purification requires no heat, it has a great advantage over distillation. 

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