VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, Nov. 23, 2009 -- Isobaric Strategies Inc., a Delaware corporation, has been formed by a group of international investors to commercialize a second generation Pressure Exchanger invented by Leif J. Hauge. Among new proprietary design features is a patented central axel for rotor positioning rather than a sleeve, allowing for 60% larger flow. Recent ERD market survey by GWI (Global Water Intelligence) and contract awards suggest isobaric energy recovery is yielding market shares to hydraulic energy converters. The new high flow device applies proven ceramic engineering and will be introduced to the SWRO desalination market with higher performance at substantial lower cost. Market acceptance is expected to be rapid as today's market is 30 times larger than in 1998 and pressure exchangers have solid track record.
Osmotic Power is another coming application, currently pioneered by renewable power giant Statkraft that depends on low cost and large flow pressure exchangers. The world's first prototype osmotic power plant is starting operation in the fjord of Oslo in Norway today and a large commercial plant could be operating within 2015.
Leif J. Hauge, founder and past President of Energy Recovery Inc., invented and introduced the pressure exchanger technology to the SWRO market before leaving ERII in 2000. After lengthy litigation, all of his Pressure Exchanger patents prior to the date of settlement March 7, 2001 were assigned to ERII without future right to patents or improvements.
As the original inventor of the pressure exchanger technology, he was awarded the EDS inaugural Sidney Loeb Award for Innovation in 2006 and has published numerous articles on the subject. The technology has been material to the growth and leverage of SWRO in recent years and offers cost effective solution to excessive energy consumption and allows more than a doubling of train production with same size high pressure feed pump.
Bermuda is a typical island ocean resort community that depends on desalination and Jon Burull, Vice President of Bermuda Waterworks Ltd. has no regrets making an early choice of pressure exchanger technology and offered this remark: "After successful operation of a 750 m³/D SWRO train with pressure exchangers in 1999, we decided to replace our 2 x 1,500 m³/D trains using positive displacements pumps and Turbo Chargers with 4 x 750 m³/D trains using Grundfos BM pumps and 12 pressure exchangers manufactured by Hauge Technologies Inc. This design resolved a persistent ground vibration issue and improved energy efficiency. Mostly all original pressure exchangers are still in operation today, which testifies to the durability and reliability of a single moving ceramic rotor."
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