Toyobo’s hollow-fiber forward osmosis (FO) membrane is used for the world’s first fully functioning osmotic power plant by Danish venture firm SaltPower. The FO membrane is semipermeable, with a cylindrical pressure vessel densely filled with hollow fibers. Thanks to its unique internal structure, which includes cross winding, both high concentration salt water and fresh water flow uniformly inside the FO membrane, and the increase in flow rate resulting from their osmotic pressure difference can be converted into highly efficient power generation. The excellent pressure resistance also enables the FO membrane to operate even under high operating pressure required for highly efficient osmotic power generation and maintain high power generation efficiency.

JCFA News Letter (No.23) August, 2023/Japan Chemical Fibers Association