As　the　global　shortage　of　fresh　water　resources　is　increasingly　serious,　the　study　of　seawater　desalination　technology　is　strengthened　all　over　the　world.　Compared　with　other　desalination　technologies,　the　reverse　osmosis　seawater　desalination　has　rapidly　developed　because　of　the　development　of　pressure　energy　recovery　devices.　In　this　paper,　the　performance　was　analyzed　from　several　aspects　among　some　pressure　energy　recovery　devices,　such　as　structure,　mechanism,　energy　recovery　efficiency,　maintenance　and　life.　Results　show　that　the　isobaric　devices　have　much　better　performance　than　the　centrifugal　ones.　Furthermore,　the　key　technologies　are　monopolized　by　foreign　countries.　Therefore,　designing　new　types　of　pressure　energy　recovery　devices　with　superior　performance　independently　is　crucial　for　the　sustainable　development　of　our　seawater　desalination　industry.