Reverse osmosis water production apparatus

Abstract

A reverse osmosis water production apparatus for use in a body of water includes a first section defining a buoyancy chamber and an elongate second section connected to the first section and configured to define an elongate chamber which extends downward beneath a waterline in use. The elongate chamber is provided with a plurality of elongate reverse osmosis membrane tubes, each tube containing a reverse osmosis membrane. A longitudinal axis of each reverse osmosis membrane tube is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate chamber and the reverse osmosis membrane tubes are arranged around a passage.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A reverse osmosis water production apparatus for use in a body of water comprising;
 a first section defining a buoyancy chamber;   an elongate second section connected to the first section and configured to define an elongate chamber which extends downward beneath a waterline in use, the elongate chamber provided with a plurality of elongate reverse osmosis membrane tubes, each tube containing a reverse osmosis membrane, wherein a longitudinal axis of each reverse osmosis membrane tube is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate chamber;   wherein the reverse osmosis membrane tubes are arranged around a passage.   
     
     
         2 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first section is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         3 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second section is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         4 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second sections are substantially cylindrical, and wherein a diameter of the first section is greater than a diameter of the second section, more preferably around two times the diameter of the second section. 
     
     
         5 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reverse osmosis membrane tubes are arranged in a substantially concentric ring around the passage. 
     
     
         6 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the reverse osmosis membrane tubes are arranged to form an inner concentric ring and an outer concentric ring around the passage. 
     
     
         7 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 6  wherein a reverse osmosis membrane tube from the inner ring and a reverse osmosis tube from the outer ring are connected together to form a first reverse osmosis membrane tube module. 
     
     
         8 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 7  wherein a reverse osmosis membrane tube from the inner ring and two adjacent reverse osmosis tubes from the outer ring are connected together to form a second reverse osmosis membrane tube module. 
     
     
         9 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of first reverse osmosis membrane tube modules and a plurality of second reverse osmosis membrane tube modules. 
     
     
         10 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the first and second reverse osmosis membrane tube modules are arranged alternately. 
     
     
         11 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 10  wherein a spacing between the first and second reverse osmosis membrane tube modules is such that one of the first reverse osmosis membrane tube modules must be removed before any one of the second reverse osmosis membrane tube modules can be removed. 
     
     
         12 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the passage is selectively communicable with the first section. 
     
     
         13 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the passage extends through the first section of the apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises moving means capable of moving at least one reverse osmosis membrane tube into the passage. 
     
     
         15 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 8  comprising moving means capable of moving an entire first reverse osmosis membrane tube module into the passage. 
     
     
         16 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the moving means is capable of moving an entire second reverse osmosis membrane tube module into the passage. 
     
     
         17 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the moving means comprises an articulated arm. 
     
     
         18 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the arm is rotatably connected a support member. 
     
     
         19 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the connection between the support member and the arm is offset from a centre of the passage. 
     
     
         20 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an upper surface of the first section comprises a deck, wherein the deck is provided with an access way which is substantially aligned with the elongate chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the deck is provided with lifting means for lifting at least one reverse osmosis membrane tube up to the deck. 
     
     
         22 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the lifting means comprises a crane. 
     
     
         23 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises one or more additional sections, each additional section configured to define an additional elongate chamber which extends downward beneath the water in use, the additional elongate chamber provided with a plurality of additional elongate reverse osmosis membrane tubes, wherein a longitudinal axis of each additional reverse osmosis membrane tube is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the additional elongate chamber;
 wherein the additional reverse osmosis membrane tubes are arranged around an additional passage. 
 
     
     
         24 . The reverse osmosis water production apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises a ballast tank at a distal end of the apparatus to the first section.