In one aspect, a mass exchanger having an air inlet, air outlet, airflow generator, and a tubular membrane assembly. The tubular membrane assembly includes an inlet header, an outlet header, and a plurality of tubular membranes. The tubular membranes have side walls configured to facilitate mass transfer between air contacting the tubular membranes and working fluid in the tubular membranes. The inlet header includes an inlet header body having inlet header body openings with inlet end portions of the tubular membranes extending in the inlet header body openings and inlet header potting connecting the inlet end portions of the tubular membranes to the header body. The outlet header includes an outlet header body having outlet header body openings with outlet end portions of the tubular membranes extending in the outlet header body openings and outlet header potting connecting the outlet end portions of the tubular membranes to the header body.

A filter includes a housing having an interior space, in which the housing has at least one opening end. The filter further includes a membrane disposed within the housing that has a length that extends along a length direction of the housing, and a baffle provided at least in the interior space of the housing. The baffle includes at least two baffle partitions that extend along at least a portion of the length of the membrane to divide the interior space of the housing into at least a first portion and a second portion so that when a fluid is supplied to the filter, the fluid is directed to first flow in the first portion and then to the second portion.

A filter includes a housing having an interior space, in which the housing has at least one opening end. The filter further includes a membrane disposed within the housing that has a length that extends along a length direction of the housing, and a baffle provided at least in the interior space of the housing. The baffle includes at least two baffle partitions that extend along at least a portion of the length of the membrane to divide the interior space of the housing into at least a first portion and a second portion so that when a fluid is supplied to the filter, the fluid is directed to first flow in the first portion and then to the second portion.

A filter unit for filtering liquid includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet, a first filter and a second filter disposed in the housing, and a liquid flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet. The liquid flow path directs the liquid one of radially inward and radially outward through a first filter media of the first filter and the other one of radially and directs the liquid the other one of radially inward and radially outward through a second filter media of the second filter. A method of filtering a liquid within a filter unit includes passing the liquid one of radially inward and radially outward through a first filter media of a first filter and passing the liquid the other one of radially inward and radially outward through a second filter media of a second filter.

A filter unit for filtering liquid includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet, a first filter and a second filter disposed in the housing, and a liquid flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet. The liquid flow path directs the liquid one of radially inward and radially outward through a first filter media of the first filter and the other one of radially and directs the liquid the other one of radially inward and radially outward through a second filter media of the second filter. A method of filtering a liquid within a filter unit includes passing the liquid one of radially inward and radially outward through a first filter media of a first filter and passing the liquid the other one of radially inward and radially outward through a second filter media of a second filter.

A dynamic filtration system and method for solid-fluid separation to eliminate or substantially reduce media blinding includes: a fluid inlet through which to receive an inlet flow of fluid to be filtered; a filter membrane; a rotatable mechanical barrier, disposed within an outer shell, to contain the filter membrane and through which to receive and filter the inlet flow of the fluid, the rotatable mechanical barrier configured to rotate dynamically along an axis, to create a high shear flow, thereby to prevent an accumulation of solids on the filter membrane, and whereby a resultant centrifugal force propels any solids and slurry onto the outer shell to be continuously removed from the dynamic filter system; a fluid outlet through which to disperse a filtered fluid; and a solids and slurry outlet through which to disperse solids and slurry collected in filtration when propelled to the outer shell of the mechanical barrier.

An apparatus for reducing the total dissolved solids of a solution includes a unit having at least two chambers; a respective semi-permeable membrane arrangement disposed between each of the at least two chambers; a device for introducing respective solutions into, and withdrawing solutions from, the chambers; and at least one paddle disposed in each of said chambers. The paddles are configured to sweep opposite sides of each of the semi-permeable membrane arrangements. A device provides relative movement between the paddles and the semi-permeable arrangements.

An apparatus for reducing the total dissolved solids of a solution includes a unit having at least two chambers; a respective semi-permeable membrane arrangement disposed between each of the at least two chambers; a device for introducing respective solutions into, and withdrawing solutions from, the chambers; and at least one paddle disposed in each of said chambers. The paddles are configured to sweep opposite sides of each of the semi-permeable membrane arrangements. A device provides relative movement between the paddles and the semi-permeable arrangements.

A spin dope composition produces a polymeric fiber useful in non-cryogenic gas separation. The composition includes polysulfone as the polymeric component, two solvents, in which the polymer is soluble, and a non-solvent, in which the polymer is insoluble. The solvents preferably include N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP) and N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMAC), and the non-solvent preferably includes triethylene glycol (TEG). Fibers made from the present composition have been found to exhibit superior properties of gas flux and selectivity, as compared with fibers made from spin dopes having only one solvent component.

Blood or other fluids can be caused to interact with a gas by providing a plurality of fluid flow channels that are surrounded by nanotubes, each of the channels having an inflow end and an outflow end, wherein each of the channels is wide enough for the blood to flow through, and wherein the nanotubes are spaced close enough to each other to retain the fluid within the channels when the blood is flowing through the channels. The fluid is then passed through the through the channels while a gas is passed through the spaces between the nanotubes outside the fluid flow channels. This permits the gas to interact with the fluid in the channels.