Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a controller for pre-treatment of seawater is described. The apparatus controls a supply of a seawater stream to a filtration unit, which outputs a first filtered stream based on the supply of the seawater stream. The method further includes controlling a supply of the first filtered stream to a graphene-based ultrafiltration unit. The graphene-based ultrafiltration unit outputs a second filtered stream based on the supply of the first filtered stream. The graphene-based ultrafiltration unit comprises graphene oxide membranes. The method further includes controlling a supply of the second filtered stream to a seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) membrane unit. The method further includes controlling an outlet of the SWRO membrane unit to output a desalinated stream based on the supply of the second filtered stream.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of determining the microbial growth potential of at least one antiscalant composition in natural seawater comprising at least the following steps; filtering natural seawater to obtain seawater comprising autochthonous bacteria having a predetermined bacterial cell concentration, adding at least one antiscalant composition comprising at least one antiscalant to the seawater to obtain a mixture, wherein the concentration of the at least one antiscalant is in the range of 0.1 to 100 mg/L, incubating the mixture; and determining the bacterial cell concentration of the mixture at regular intervals to determine the microbial growth potential of the at least one antiscalant composition in the natural seawater.

Abstract: A system and a method for neural network-based optimization of coagulant dosing in a desalination plant receives operational data associated with the desalination plant to produce a filtered liquid stream from a first liquid stream. The operational data includes a first set of parameters associated with the first liquid stream. The system and method may determine a second set of parameters based on pre-processing of the first set of parameters. The system and method may also determine a third set of parameters based on the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters. The system and method may also provide the third set of parameters as input to a Neural Network (NN) model and estimate a Silt Density Index (SDI) of the first liquid stream. The system and method may modify a coagulant dosing rate in the first liquid stream based on the estimated SDI data.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for recovering minerals uses a metal-organic-framework (MOF)-based Nanofiltration (NF) membrane, and there is also a method for fabricating an NF membrane. The fabricating method includes preparing a first layer as a coating solution that includes chitosan, an acid solution, metal oxide nanoparticles, and an MOF. A second step involves both pre-treating a second layer by immersing it into a base solution to activate a substrate surface of the second layer, and fabricating the NF membrane by coating the second layer with the coating solution to form the first layer on the second layer. The first layer has a positive-surface charge selectively to repel one or more minerals from a liquid stream for recovery.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing a seawater reverse osmosis process receives operational data associated with a desalination plant. The operational data includes a set of parameters associated with seawater used at that plant. That seawater is passed through a reverse osmosis membrane unit to output at least a first permeate stream and a second permeate stream. The system receives first permeate stream data and second permeate stream data, and retrieves reference data, including reference first and second permeate stream data. The system provides, as input to a Machine Learning (ML) model, the operational data, the first and second permeate stream data, and the reference data. The system determines a split ratio value based upon output of the ML model, and modifies parameters associated with the seawater based upon the split ratio value.

Abstract: A system and method for predictive analysis of Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants receives first data associated with a SWRO plant, including a first set of parameters associated with seawater, a second set of parameters associated with a permeate, and a third set of parameters associated with a brine. The system determines a fourth set of parameters by applying normalization techniques to the received first data. The system determines, based upon the fourth set of parameters, a set of membrane performance parameters associated with the SWRO plant, or a set of diagnostic indicators associated with at least one of the SWRO plant and the seawater. The system outputs the determined set of membrane performance parameters or the set of diagnostic indicators.

Abstract: A system and a method for remineralization of purified water retrieves liquid stream data associated with a first liquid stream that includes a set of chemical compounds and a set of parameters. The system controls a concentration of at least a first chemical compound of the set of chemical compounds by adding at least the first chemical compound to the first liquid stream. The system compares at least a first parameter of the set of parameters with a corresponding reference parameter of a set of reference parameters based on the addition of the first chemical compound. The system also controls the output of the first liquid stream based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system and method retrieves liquid stream data associated with a first liquid stream that includes a set of chemical compounds. and a set of parameters. The system also retrieves reference data that is associated with a reference liquid stream, and includes a set of reference parameters. The system compares at least a first parameter of the set of liquid-stream parameters with a corresponding reference parameter of the set of reference parameters. The system also controls an output of the first liquid stream based on the comparison of parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for seawater reverse osmosis controls mixing units to perform a first stage treatment of a liquid stream by adding a first set of chemical compounds to obtain a first liquid stream. The apparatus controls an ultrafiltration unit to perform a first stage purification by removing a first set of impurities to obtain a second liquid stream. The apparatus also controls a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane unit to remove a second set of chemical compounds by passing the second liquid stream through the RO membrane. The RO membrane outputs at least one of an RO brine stream and an RO permeate stream. The apparatus also controls an ion exchange unit to remove a third set of chemical compounds from the RO permeate stream to obtain a filtered liquid stream, and the apparatus stores the filtered liquid stream.

Abstract: A perfluorocarbon-free membrane composed of a non-perfluorocarbon material having a first side and a second side opposite of the first side. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane also includes a plurality of pores, each having an inlet and outlet and each passing through the non-perfluorocarbon material so that each pore provides fluidic communication between the first and second sides of the non-perfluorocarbon material. A portion of the non-perfluorocarbon material extends over the inlet and outlet of each the plurality of pores so that a cross-sectional area of the inlets and outlets in a direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the respective pore in the direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane does not include a hydrophobic perfluorocarbon coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and circuits of multi-output hybrid voltage regulators that generate multiple lower level DC voltages lower than the magnitude of an input voltage provided to an input node of the regulator. The disclosed methods and circuits can be applied to today's Large conversion ratio DC-DC converters that allow them to support same power conversion functionality for multiple output voltages with one core switched capacitor network sharing passive components and switches with less voltage ratings, and therefore, reduce the implementation space to save cost as well as improve efficiency. Sample applications include, but are not limited to, PoL converters for data centers and telecommunication systems with better efficiency and compactness for higher conversion ratio.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and circuits of a hybrid converter family that allows using a combination of a switched multiple capacitor network and a number of inductors in order to a power conversion from an input to an output that may require a large conversion ratio, high output current, low output voltage, and/or high input voltage. The disclosed circuits and methods can be applied to today's switching regulators and allow them to provide the same power conversion function with less number of power conversion stages, smaller passive components, and less number of active components, and therefore, reduce the implementation space to save cost as well as improve efficiency. Sample applications include, but are not limited to, point-of-load power converters for data centers, telecommunication systems and other high-performance electronic systems.

Abstract: A perfluorocarbon-free membrane composed of a non-perfluorocarbon material having a first side and a second side opposite of the first side. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane also includes a plurality of pores, each having an inlet and outlet and each passing through the non-perfluorocarbon material so that each pore provides fluidic communication between the first and second sides of the non-perfluorocarbon material. A portion of the non-perfluorocarbon material extends over the inlet and outlet of each the plurality of pores so that a cross-sectional area of the inlets and outlets in a direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the respective pore in the direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane does not include a hydrophobic perfluorocarbon coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and circuits of a hybrid converter family that allows using a combination of a switched multiple capacitor network and a number of inductors in order to a power conversion from an input to an output that may require a large conversion ratio, high output current, low output voltage, and/or high input voltage. The disclosed circuits and methods can be applied to today's switching regulators and allow them to provide the same power conversion function with less number of power conversion stages, smaller passive components, and less number of active components, and therefore, reduce the implementation space to save cost as well as improve efficiency. Sample applications include, but are not limited to, point-of-load power converters for data centers, telecommunication systems and other high-performance electronic systems.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and circuits of multi-output hybrid voltage regulators that generate multiple lower level DC voltages lower than the magnitude of an input voltage provided to an input node of the regulator. The disclosed methods and circuits can be applied to today's Large conversion ratio DC-DC converters that allow them to support same power conversion functionality for multiple output voltages with one core switched capacitor network sharing passive components and switches with less voltage ratings, and therefore, reduce the implementation space to save cost as well as improve efficiency. Sample applications include, but are not limited to, PoL converters for data centers and telecommunication systems with better efficiency and compactness for higher conversion ratio.