A humidifier for transferring water vapour from a first gas stream to a second gas stream in a fuel cell system comprises a stack of thin plates having planar sealing surfaces at their edges, along which they are sealed together. A water permeable membranes is provided between each pair of plates in the stack. Each plate defines a gas flow passage along its top and bottom surfaces, with an inlet and outlet defined along edges of the plate, and a flow field extending between the inlet and outlet openings. Inlet and outlet passages connect the inlet and outlet openings to the flow field, and the planar sealing surfaces on both sides of the plate include bridging portions which extend across the inlet and outlet passages. Support structures such as ribs are provided throughout the flow field and the inlet and outlet passages to support the membrane and diffusion medium layer(s). The support structures may optionally be connected together by webs, and the webs are provided with holes to permit flow distribution between the top and bottom of each plate.

A filtration article including a composite filtration structure, a seal region positioned within the composite filtration structure, and an attachment weld that interconnects the seal region and an outer casing is provided. The composite filtration structure includes a stacked filter material including at least two fluoropolymer membranes and a support layer. The support layer may be formed of a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer. When heated, the polymer in the support layer melts and flows into the fluoropolymer membranes. In exemplary embodiments, the polymer is imbibed through the thickness of the fluoropolymer membranes. The attachment weld may be positioned at any location within the seal region so long as the attachment weld is positioned a distance from the outer periphery of the composite filtration structure. The filtration article is small in size, is lightweight, and may be used as a sterilizing grade filter. Methods of producing the filtration article also provided.

A separation-membrane module 1 includes an element block 2 that is formed by arranging, in parallel, a plurality of separation-membrane elements 4 that are formed by arranging a pair of separation-membranes with their respective permeate surfaces in opposition to each other and sealing the edges of the pair of the membranes; and an aeration block 3 that includes an aeration pipe 31 and that is disposed under the element block 2. In the element block 2, at least one upper spacer 8 is disposed in the upper portion of each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4, and a lower spacer 9 is disposed under the upper spacer 8 in each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4. And the leftmost and the rightmost separation-membrane elements 4 of the plurality of the separation-membrane elements 4 are secured to a frame 12 at the lower spacers 9.

A separation-membrane module 1 includes an element block 2 that is formed by arranging, in parallel, a plurality of separation-membrane elements 4 that are formed by arranging a pair of separation-membranes with their respective permeate surfaces in opposition to each other and sealing the edges of the pair of the membranes; and an aeration block 3 that includes an aeration pipe 31 and that is disposed under the element block 2. In the element block 2, at least one upper spacer 8 is disposed in the upper portion of each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4, and a lower spacer 9 is disposed under the upper spacer 8 in each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4. And the leftmost and the rightmost separation-membrane elements 4 of the plurality of the separation-membrane elements 4 are secured to a frame 12 at the lower spacers 9.

A water filtration system utilizes a housing configured to utilize various types of filter media and having a press-sealed closing system. The closing system includes a head portion defining a head opening, a lock member, and a lid member. The lock member releasably engages the head portion such that an abutment section of the lock member projects into the head opening. The lid member is received by the head portion to cover the head opening, and has an outward-facing press section configured to abut an inward facing portion of the abutment section of the lock member when the lid member is covering the head opening. Pressure generated within the housing during water filtration presses the lid member in an outward direction and causes the lid member press section to press against the abutment section of the lock member to substantially prevent disengagement of the lock member from the head portion.

A water filtration system utilizes a housing configured to utilize various types of filter media and having a press-sealed closing system. The closing system includes a head portion defining a head opening, a lock member, and a lid member. The lock member releasably engages the head portion such that an abutment section of the lock member projects into the head opening. The lid member is received by the head portion to cover the head opening, and has an outward-facing press section configured to abut an inward facing portion of the abutment section of the lock member when the lid member is covering the head opening. Pressure generated within the housing during water filtration presses the lid member in an outward direction and causes the lid member press section to press against the abutment section of the lock member to substantially prevent disengagement of the lock member from the head portion.

Provided is a means which makes it possible to prevent quality deterioration of a facilitated transport membrane for a long period of time. A method for packing the facilitated transport membrane selectively allowing a specific gas to permeate therethrough, includes the steps of: putting the facilitated transport membrane in a packaging body having a transmission rate of not more than 10,000 cm.sup.3/(m.sup.2.Math.24 h.Math.atm) for the specific gas; preventing a contact between the facilitated transport membrane and the specific gas; and lastly sealing the packaging body.

A purified water storage device includes a container including a cover, a bladder having a top secured to the cover and a bottom secured to a through hole of the container, a pipe for both venting and draining having an end connected to the bladder and communicating therewith, the pipe including a check valve, a water pipe having an end connected to the bottom of the bladder and communicating therewith, and a level sensor disposed externally of the container and having an end connected to the bottom of the bladder and communicating therewith. The watertight bladder is made of thermoplastic for medical or food purposes. The bladder can be replaced after a predetermined times of use rather than regular cleaning. Venting is carried out and overflow is prevented. The device has the same effect as an open container. Its material is safe and cleanness can be maintained.

An adhesive composition suitable for reverse osmosis modules, the adhesive composition includes (I) a polyurethane composition that includes (A) an isocyanate group-containing pre-polymer comprising a reaction product of (i) castor oil or a derivative thereof; and (ii) a polyisocyanate; and (iii) optionally a second polyol; and (B) an isocyanate-reactive polyol mixture comprising: (i) a polybutadiene polyol; and (ii) a urethane catalyst; and (iii) optionally the second polyol; and (II) a plasticizer wherein the adhesive composition is essentially free from diluent oils and solvents.

A spiral separation membrane element including a plurality of separation membrane pairs wound around the outer peripheral surface of a water collection pipe, wherein the plurality of separation membranes include at least two sets of separation membrane pairs in which two adjacent separation membranes are stacked such that the water supply sides of the separation membranes form opposing surfaces, and the water supply-side surfaces at the ends of separation membranes close to the water collection pipe and parallel to the lengthwise direction of the water collection pipe are sealed by a sealing material.