Mobile desalination plants and systems, and methods for producing desalinated water

Abstract

A desalination vessel has a water intake system having a water intake configured to be in communication with a body of water, and a water intake pump configured to draw water from the body of water, a water desalination system configured to produce desalinated water and concentrate from water drawn from the body of water, a mixing tank on the desalination vessel configured to mix the concentrate with water drawn from the body of water to produce diluted concentrate, and a concentrate discharge system configured to discharge the diluted concentrate into the body of water. The desalination vessel is configured to float on the body of water.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A desalination vessel comprising:
 a water intake system comprising:   a water intake configured to be in communication with a body of water, and   a water intake pump configured to draw water from the body of water;   a water desalination system configured to produce desalinated water and concentrate from water drawn from the body of water;   a mixing tank on the desalination vessel configured to mix the concentrate with water drawn from the body of water to produce diluted concentrate; and   a concentrate discharge system configured to discharge the diluted concentrate into the body of water,   wherein the desalination vessel is configured to float on the body of water.   
     
     
         22 . The desalination vessel according to  claim 21 , wherein the concentrate discharge system comprises a plurality of concentrate discharge ports through which the diluted concentrate is discharged. 
     
     
         23 . The desalination vessel according to  claim 21 , wherein the desalination system comprises:
 a reverse osmosis system comprising a high pressure pump and a reverse osmosis membrane,   wherein the reverse osmosis system produces the desalinated water and the concentrate using pressure from the high pressure pump to separate the desalinated water and the concentrate across the reverse osmosis membrane.   
     
     
         24 . The desalination vessel according to  claim 21  further comprising:
 a packaging system for packaging the desalinated water.   
     
     
         25 . The desalination vessel according to  claim 21  further comprising:
 a power source for generating electricity for powering the desalination system,   wherein the power source is capable of transferring electricity to land.   
     
     
         26 . A method of desalinating water comprising:
 drawing water from a body of water onto a desalination vessel floating on the body of water;   producing desalinated water and concentrate on the desalination vessel;   diluting the concentrate in a mixing tank with water drawn from the body of water on the desalination vessel to produce diluted concentrate; and   discharging the diluted concentrate into the body of water.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  further comprising:
 discharging the concentrate into the body of water through a plurality of concentrate discharge ports.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26  further comprising:
 delivering the desalinated water to land via a pipeline.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26  further comprising:
 producing electricity on the desalination vessel to power the production of the desalinated water and concentrate, and   transferring at least some of the electricity produced on the desalination vessel to land.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26  further comprising:
 packaging the desalinated water on the desalination vessel.