DELBOUY - OCEAN WAVE-POWERED SEAWATER REVERSE-OSMOSIS DESALINATION SYSTEM

An ocean wave energy system under development since 1976 directly links ocean wave power with the production of freshwater from seawater using reverse osmosis (RO) technology. The device, referred to as DELBUOY, utilizes no motors, generators or electronics and makes extensive use of engineering polymers for constructing major system components. The DELBUOY combines a wave driven buoy, linear pump and an anchor system with well-proven single-pass seawater RO membranes to produce potable water. The systems are modular in nature, allowing arrays to be sized to suit specific site requirements, from as little as 6 m3/D. Unlike many of the other wave energy devices currently under development, the DELBUOY is an economic alternative to conventional desalination systems in wave fields as small as one meter. The DELBUOY system is especially useful in areas that are remote, have insufficient or unreliable power supplies or have high power costs.