In embodiments of the invention, there is provided a dialyzer or filter comprising hollow fibers, in which blood flows on the exterior of the hollow fibers, and dialysate or filtrate may flow on the inside. The external surfaces of the hollow fibers may have properties of smoothness and hemocompatibility. The fiber bundle may have appropriate packing fraction and may have wavy fibers. Optimum shear rates and blood velocities are identified. Geometric features of the cartridge, such as pertaining to flow distribution of the blood, may be different for different ends of the cartridge. Air bleed and emboli traps may be provided. Lengthened service life may be achieved by combinations of these features, which may permit additional therapies and applications or better economics.

A water purification system (100) is provided and includes: a composite filter cartridge assembly (1), a booster pump (4), a waste-water solenoid valve (7) and a water storage device. The composite filter cartridge assembly (1) includes a filter casing (11) and a composite filter cartridge (12). A pretreated-water outlet (114) of the filter casing (11) is connected with a water-output end of a pretreating filter cartridge (121) of the composite filter cartridge (12) and with the booster pump (4). A pretreated-water inlet (115) of the filter casing (11) is connected with a water-input end of a fine filter cartridge (122) of the composite filter cartridge (12) and with the booster pump (4). A purified-water port (116) of the filter casing (11) is connected with a water-output end of the fine filter cartridge (122), a water-input end of a mouthfeel-improving filter cartridge (123) of the composite filter cartridge (12) and the water storage device.

A desalination brine dispersal apparatus and method employ airlift to remove, oxygenate and disperse brine from a desalination apparatus. The apparatus includes a brine removal conduit having a brine inlet that receives brine from the desalination apparatus, a plurality of brine outlets submerged in seawater and one or more air introduction points located at depths below the brine outlets. The supplied air oxygenates and moves brine through the brine removal conduit and outlets via airlift and disperses the brine into seawater away from the brine removal conduit. The apparatus avoids the formation of concentrated, high shear brine plumes and can disperse brine into seawater over a wide area well away from the brine removal conduit.

A flat-plate filter for water treatment and a flat-plate filter module comprising the same are provided. The flat-plate filter for water treatment according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a piece-shaped filtration member comprising a first support and a membrane formed on both sides of the first support; and a support frame fitted in and coupled to the edge of the filtration member so as to support the filtration member, and having a flow path through which filtered water introduced from at least one surface of the filtration member flows, wherein a part of the filtration member is disposed in the flow path or at the edge of the flow path such that the first support is exposed.

A spiral wound module assembly including: a plurality of spiral wound modules aligned within a pressure vessel with a first module located adjacent the first end and a second module located adjacent the second end, a flow plate including opposing first and second sides positioned within the pressure vessel between the first spiral wound module and the first end of the pressure vessel with the first side facing the first spiral wound module and the second side facing the first end, and wherein the flow plate includes a plurality of holes passing from the first side to the second side which create a pressure drop in fluid passing from the first spiral wound module and the closer of the feed inlet port and concentrate outlet port; and a differential pressure sensor adapted to measure differences in pressure between fluid located on the opposing sides of the flow plate.

A submersible reverse osmosis desalination apparatus and method employs airlift to remove desalinated water from the apparatus via as annular flow regime over a substantial portion of the product water discharge conduit. Use of a high air fraction for airlift operation and an annular flow regime significantly lowers the weight of the product water column, as well as the backpressure on the downstream side of the osmotic membranes and at the bottom of the discharge water conduit. This permits deployment of the apparatus at reduced depths and in many eases closer to shore. In preferred embodiments the apparatus relies wholly upon hydrostatic pressure to drive seawater through the osmotic membranes, and continuously desalinates seawater and delivers pure water to the discharge water conduit without using any submerged moving parts subject to wear or breakage.

A reverse osmosis apparatus including a reverse osmosis unit having a housing; a cylindrical drum rotatably disposed inside the housing wherein a lateral gap therebetween defines a intervening chamber, and including an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall to define an inner cylindrical feed chamber and an outer annular separation chamber therewithin; and at least one channeling structure defining a permeate channel extending radially from the inner cylindrical wall to the outer cylindrical wall, wherein a first channel end is closed and a second channel end opens into the intervening chamber. The at least one channeling structure including a membrane element extending lengthwise forming a semi-permeable interface between the permeate channel and a feed-flow-region in fluid communication with the inner cylindrical feed chamber. The apparatus including a pump to pressurize the inner cylindrical feed chamber, and a motor to rotate the cylindrical drum for generating centrifugal force.

A gas separation membrane module includes at least one hollow fiber membrane element and a casing. The hollow fiber membrane element includes hollow fiber membranes and a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body extends in a longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membranes, and accommodates the hollow fiber membranes. The hollow fiber membrane element includes sweep gas introduction ports and mixed gas discharge ports. A first supply chamber, a first discharge chamber, a second supply chamber, and a second discharge chamber are positioned between the casing and the hollow fiber membrane element. The first supply chamber, the first discharge chamber, the second supply chamber, and the second discharge chamber are partitioned off from each other.

A multi-stage direct contact membrane distillation (MS-DCMD) system and a process for using the MS-DCMD are provide. The MS-DCMD includes a plurality of modules, wherein each module includes a feed chamber fluidically coupled to a feed line and a carrier gas line, wherein the feed line introduces a liquid feed into the feed chamber from a liquid feed tank, and wherein the carrier gas line introduces a carrier gas into the feed chamber. Each module includes a cold chamber fluidically coupled to a cold-water feed line and a cold-water return line, wherein cold water is circulated through the cold chamber. Each module further includes a membrane separating the feed chamber from the cold chamber, wherein the membrane allows transportation of vapor from the feed chamber to the cold chamber while blocking liquid from moving from the feed chamber to the cold chamber.

A multistage vacuum membrane distillation (MS-VMD) system including a plurality of modules is provided along with a method for using the MS-VMD. The MS-VMD system includes a feed chamber coupled to a feed line and a carrier gas line, wherein the feed line introduces a liquid feed into the feed chamber from a liquid feed tank, and wherein the carrier gas line introduces a carrier gas into the feed chamber. The MS-VMD system also includes a vacuum chamber coupled to a vacuum line, wherein the vacuum line pulls a vacuum on the vacuum chamber, and a membrane separating the feed chamber from the vacuum chamber, wherein the membrane allows transportation of vapor from the feed chamber to the vacuum chamber while blocking liquid from moving from the feed chamber to the vacuum chamber.