Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for cleaning feed water of variable quality, the system including an inlet for selectively delivering feed water to one or other of at least two feed chambers, each feed chamber having a delivery pipe for delivering feed water to a reverse osmosis or nanofiltration, a pump to deliver the feed water from one of the chambers through its associated delivery pipe to the reverse osmosis or nanofiltration to create a concentrated feed stream and a product water stream, return pipes for selectively returning the concentrated feed stream to one or another of the at least two feed chambers, a product water outlet for removal of the product water, and switching mechanisms and/or switchers for switching the delivery of the concentrated feed stream between the selectable return pipes upon detection of a predetermined reduction in efficiency within one or another of the feed chambers.

Abstract: A system for cleaning feed water of variable quality, the system comprising an inlet for selectively delivering feed water to one or other of at least two feed chambers, each feed chamber having a delivery pipe for delivering feed water to a reverse osmosis or nanofiltration; a pump to deliver the feed water from one of the chambers through its associated delivery pipe to the reverse osmosis or nanofiltration to create a concentrated feed stream and a product water stream; return pipes for selectively returning the concentrated feed stream to one or other of the at least two feed chambers; a product water outlet for removal of the product water; and means for switching the delivery of the concentrated feed stream between the selectable return pipes upon detection of a predetermined reduction in efficiency within one or another of the feed chambers.

Abstract: A system for cleaning feed water of variable quality, the system comprising an inlet for selectively delivering feed water to one or other of at least two feed chambers, each feed chamber having a delivery pipe for delivering feed water to a reverse osmosis or nanofiltration; a pump to deliver the feed water from one of the chambers through its associated delivery pipe to the reverse osmosis or nanofiltration to create a concentrated feed stream and a product water stream; return pipes for selectively returning the concentrated feed stream to one or other of the at least two feed chambers; a product water outlet for removal of the product water; and means for switching the delivery of the concentrated feed stream between the selectable return pipes upon detection of a predetermined reduction in efficiency within one or another of the feed chambers.

Abstract: A system for cleaning feed water of variable quality, the system comprising an inlet for selectively delivering feed water (FW) to one or other of at least two feed chambers (2,4), each feed chamber having a delivery pipe (2i, 4i) for delivering feed water to a reverse osmosis or nanofiltration (8); a pump (6) to deliver the feed water from one of the chambers (2, 4) through its associated delivery pipe (2i, 4i) to the reverse osmosis or nanofiltration (8) to create a concentrated feed stream and a product water stream (PW); return pipes (2R, 4R) for selectively returning the concentrated feed stream to one or other of the at least two feed chambers (2, 4); a product water outlet for removal of the product water (PW); and means for switching the delivery of the concentrated feed stream between the selectable return pipes (2R, 4R) upon detection of a predetermined reduction in the efficiency of the RO or NF process within one or other of the feed chambers (2, 4).

Abstract: A water treatment system comprising a mechanical vapour compression apparatus (11), the mechanical vapour apparatus having a evaporation/condensation vessel (11a) and a recirculation circuit (20) whereby recirculated water is pumped from an outlet (18a) of the evaporation/condensation vessel (11A) to an inlet (18B) of the evaporation/condensation vessel (11A), wherein the recirculation circuit (20) comprises a fluidized bed crystallizer (22), and at least part of the recirculated brine is passed through the fluidized bed crystallizer (22) to remove dissolved minerals therefrom.

Abstract: A thermal desalination system, comprising a multi-effect evaporator comprising a plurality of effects, configured to produce product water and brine and a fluidized bed crystallizer, configured to remove dissolved minerals and/or solids from the water, wherein the fluidized bed crystallizer is disposed between at least two effects of the multi-effect evaporator.

Abstract: A water treatment system comprising a mechanical vapour compression apparatus (11), the mechanical vapour apparatus having a evaporation/condensation vessel (11a) and a recirculation circuit (20) whereby recirculated water is pumped from an outlet (18a) of the evaporation/condensation vessel (11A) to an inlet (18B) of the evaporation/condensation vessel (11A), wherein the recirculation circuit (20) comprises a fluidized bed crystallizer (22), and at least part of the recirculated brine is passed through the fluidized bed crystallizer (22) to remove dissolved minerals therefrom.

Abstract: A thermal desalination system, comprising a multi-effect evaporator comprising a plurality of effects, configured to produce product water and brine and a fluidized bed crystallizer, configured to remove dissolved minerals and/or solids from the water, wherein the fluidized bed crystallizer is disposed between at least two effects of the multi-effect evaporator.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis desalination system for treating feed water, the feed water containing minerals, the system comprising a reverse osmosis unit comprising a first reverse osmosis stage (21) and a second reverse osmosis stage (22), each of the reverse osmosis stages (21, 22) having a feed water input, a product water outlet and a brine outlet, and a fluidized bed crystallizer (30), configured to remove minerals from the water, wherein the fluidized bed crystallizer (30) receives brine from the first reverse osmosis stage (21) and passes treated water to the feed water input of the second reverse osmosis stage (22).

Abstract: A system for cleaning feed water of variable quality, the system comprising an inlet for selectively delivering feed water (FW) to one or other of at least two feed chambers (2,4), each feed chamber having a delivery pipe (2i, 4i) for delivering feed water to a reverse osmosis or nanofiltration (8); a pump (6) to deliver the feed water from one of the chambers (2, 4) through its as sociated delivery pipe (2i, 4i) to the reverse osmosis or nanofiltration (8) to create a concentrated feed stream and a product water stream (PW);return pipes (2R, 4R) for selectively returning the concentrated feed stream to one or other of the at least two feed chambers (2, 4); a product water outlet for removal of the product water (PW); and means for switching the delivery of the concen trated feed stream between the selectable return pipes (2R, 4R) upon detection of a predetermined reduction in the efficiency of the RO or NF process within one or other of the feed chambers (2, 4).