Desalinated water packaging

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for desalinating water are provided. A vessel includes a water intake system, a reverse osmosis system, a concentrate discharge system, a permeate transfer system, a power source, and a control system. The concentrate discharge system includes a plurality of concentrate discharge ports.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 : A desalinated water production system comprising:
 a structure located offshore on a body of seawater;   a water desalination system installed on the structure, the desalination system capable of producing desalinated water from seawater; and   a packaging system for packaging the desalinated water to yield packaged desalinated water.   
     
     
         16 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 15 , wherein the packaging system for packaging the desalinated water is installed on the structure. 
     
     
         17 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 15 , wherein the packaging system for packaging the desalinated water comprises a bottling plant. 
     
     
         18 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 15 , wherein the packaging system for packaging the desalinated water comprises a plurality of storage bladders. 
     
     
         19 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 15 , wherein the structure is a vessel. 
     
     
         20 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 15 , wherein the water desalination system installed on the floating structure is capable of producing between 5,000 and 450,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day. 
     
     
         21 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 15 , wherein the structure has installed thereon a seawater intake system comprising a member that can be extended into the body of seawater to various depths. 
     
     
         22 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 21 , wherein member is extended into the body of seawater into or below a thermocline region. 
     
     
         23 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 21 , wherein member that is extended into the body of seawater to a site deeper than 10 meters. 
     
     
         24 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 15 , wherein the desalinated water production system further comprises a means for transporting the packaged desalinated water from the packaging system to shore. 
     
     
         25 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 24 , wherein the means for transporting the packaged desalinated water from the packaging system to shore comprises a vessel. 
     
     
         26 : The desalinated water production system of  claim 15 , wherein the structure has installed thereon a concentrate discharge system which operable to receive concentrate produced by the water desalination system and discharge it into the body of seawater, the concentrate discharge system comprising a device for discharging the concentrate into the body of seawater, wherein the device for discharging the concentrate into the seawater comprises at least one means selected from group consisting of (a) a means for dispersing the concentrate as it is discharged from the concentrate discharge system and (b) a means for diluting the concentrate with water from the body of seawater before it enters the body of seawater. 
     
     
         27 : A method of packaging desalinating seawater produced on a structure located offshore on a body of seawater, the method comprising the steps of:
 intaking seawater from the body of seawater into a desalination system installed on the structure;   removing salt from the seawater taken into the desalination system to yield desalinated water and a concentrate; and   packaging the desalinated water.   
     
     
         28 : The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of packaging the desalinated water is performed in a bottling plant located on structure. 
     
     
         29 : The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of packaging the desalinated water comprises placing the desalinated water into a plurality of storage bladders. 
     
     
         30 : The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of packaging the desalinated water is performed offshore. 
     
     
         31 : The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of packaging the desalinated water is performed on a vessel. 
     
     
         32 : The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of packaging the desalinated water is performed on the structure. 
     
     
         33 : The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method produces between 5,000 and 450,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day. 
     
     
         34 : The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of intaking seawater is performed using a seawater intake member that can be extended into the body of seawater to various depths. 
     
     
         35 : The method of  claim 34 , wherein member is extended into the body of seawater into or below a thermocline region. 
     
     
         36 : The method of  claim 34 , wherein member is extended into the body of seawater to a site deeper than 10 meters. 
     
     
         37 : The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of transporting the packaged desalinated water from an offshore location to a site on shore. 
     
     
         38 : The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step of transporting the packaged desalinated water comprises transporting the packaged desalinated water to shore using a vessel. 
     
     
         39 : The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of discharging the concentrate from the structure, wherein the step of discharging the concentrate from the structure comprises dispersing the concentrate as it is discharged from the structure. 
     
     
         40 : The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of discharging the concentrate from the structure, wherein the step of discharging the concentrate from the structure comprises diluting the concentrate with water from the body of seawater before it enters the body of seawater.