Abstract: An underdrain system for a media pressure vessel has a set of removable pipe sections located between an external header and the bottom of a vessel. Septa extend upwards from the removable pipe sections into the vessel by up to 16 inches. The septa may have diameters of 6 inches or more. The header is attached to the bottoms of the removable pipe sections. Each pipe section, and its associated septum, may be removed individually. To clean the vessel. after media is removed from the vessel the pipe sections are removed sequentially while the header remains otherwise attached to the vessel. While a pipe section is removed. its associated septum is removed so that solids can be removed from the annulus between the septum and the vessel. In this way. media can be cleaned from the annuli without moving the external header or entering the vessel.

Abstract: An underdrain system for a media pressure vessel has a set of removable pipe sections located between an external header and the bottom of a vessel. Septa extend upwards from the removable pipe sections into the vessel. The header is attached to the bottoms of the removable pipe sections. To clean the vessel, the pipe sections are removed. While a pipe section is removed, its associated septum is removed so that solids can be removed from the annulus between the septum and the vessel. In this way, media can be cleaned from the annuli without moving the external header or entering the vessel. A cleaning mechanism includes an elongated member with a spray nozzle that may be moved within the vessel. The cleaning mechanism may be used to removed media adhered to the walls of the vessel, for example while the septa are removed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated desalination and salt plant for the production of a salt or slurry product of high purity. The reject stream from the desalination plant is used as the feed stream for the salt plant. The salt plant feed stream is filtered to effectively remove sulfate, which prevents scale formation in the salt plant equipment. The filtering may also reduce the level of calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, or other components of the feed which may also prevent scale formation in the salt plant equipment. The salt plant produces a high purity salt product without the use of chemical purification.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for improving the efficiency of a combined-cycle power generation plant and desalination unit. The process includes supplying exhaust gases from a gas turbine set used to generate electrical power to a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and then directing the steam from the HRSG to a steam turbine set. Salinous water is supplied into an effect of the desalination unit. Steam exhausted from the steam turbine set is utilized in the effect of the desalination unit to produce a distillate vapor and brine from the effect by heat exchange. Additionally, steam is introduced steam from at least one additional heat source from the combined-cycle power generation plant to the effect to increase the mass flow rate of steam into the effect. In one embodiment, the additional heat source is an intercooler heat exchanger. Heated water from the intercooler heat exchanger is provided to a reduced atmosphere flash tank, and the steam flashed in the flash tank is provided to the effect.

Abstract: A desalination plant for treating a sea water or brackish water feed is provided. The desalination plant includes a first treatment section to effectively remove scaling species, the first treatment section including nanofiltration section, the nanofiltration section including at least two stages and at least two passes; and a reverse osmosis section that operates at high recovery to produce a purified permeate stream and a selectively NaCl salt-enriched reject stream as a saline output.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated desalination and salt plant for the production of a salt or slurry product of high purity. The reject stream from the desalination plant is used as the feed stream for the salt plant. The salt plant feed stream is filtered to effectively remove sulfate, which prevents scale formation in the salt plant equipment. The filtering may also reduce the level of calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, or other components of the feed which may also prevent scale formation in the salt plant equipment. The salt plant produces a high purity salt product without the use of chemical purification.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for improving the efficiency of a combined-cycle power generation plant and desalination unit. The process includes supplying exhaust gases from a gas turbine set used to generate electrical power to a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and then directing the steam from the HRSG to a steam turbine set. Salinous water is supplied into an effect of the desalination unit. Steam exhausted from the steam turbine set is utilized in the effect of the desalination unit to produce a distillate vapor and brine from the effect by heat exchange. Additionally, steam is introduced steam from at least one additional heat source from the combined-cycle power generation plant to the effect to increase the mass flow rate of steam into the effect. In one embodiment, the additional heat source is an intercooler heat exchanger. Heated water from the intercooler heat exchanger is provided to a reduced atmosphere flash tank, and the steam flashed in the flash tank is provided to the effect.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a desalination plant that operates with a sea water or brackish water feed and produces a concentrated and selectively improved salt reject stream and a pure water permeate stream from a first treatment section that is arranged to produce primarily water at high recovery using membrane desalination processes. The reject stream from the first treatment line has a component distribution that is substantially reduced in native di- and polyvalent scaling ions, essentially depleted of sulfate, has substantially higher total dissolved solids than a traditional sea water reverse osmosis reject, yet is suitable for thermal treatment processes. The system may be enhanced by monovalent salt components. The unit may be integrated with a second treatment section, in which the first reject stream is further concentrated, purified, and processed to produce a high purity salt product.

Abstract: A system includes an analysis module and/or a prediction module. The analysis module receives data from a heat transfer device, and can compute a performance indicator indicative of an incipient anomaly condition of the heat transfer device based upon the received data, and/or can compute a normalized efficiency of the heat transfer device. The normalized efficiency represents a corrected efficiency that isolates effects of a process parameter on performance of the heat transfer device. The data represents a measurable process parameter or a change in a measurable process parameter in the heat transfer device. The prediction module receives the data and computes a performance indicator to predict performance degradation of the heat transfer device over time based upon the received data. Associated methods are provided.

Abstract: A system for isolating effects of one or more process parameters on performance of a heat transfer device is provided. The system includes an efficiency correction unit that is adapted to receive data from the heat transfer device. The data is representative of one or more measurable process parameters or a change in the one or more measurable process parameters of the heat transfer device. The efficiency correction unit is also configured to compute a normalized efficiency of the heat transfer device. The normalized efficiency represents a corrected efficiency that isolates effects of one or more process parameters on performance of the heat transfer device.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for evaluating and monitoring performance of a heat exchanger system. Operating parameters of the system are monitored and fouling factors for heat transfer surfaces of the exchanger are determined. Trending of fouling may be performed over time based upon the fouling factors, and a model of fouling may be selected from known sets of models, or a model may be developed or refined. Fluid treatment, such as water treatment regimes may be taken into account in evaluation of fouling. An automated knowledge based analysis algorithm may diagnose possible caused of fouling based upon sensed and observed parameters and conditions. Corrective actions may be suggested and the system controlled to reduce, avoid or correct for detected fouling.