In manufacturing an oxygenator (10), an intermediate spacer (18) is arranged between an inner cylinder unit (13) configured by winding a first hollow fiber membrane (14a) and an outer cylinder unit (15) configured by winding a second hollow fiber membrane (16a) so that a first gap (100a) is formed between one end portions of the inner cylinder unit (13) and the outer cylinder unit (15), and a first partition section (62a) is inserted into the first gap (100a). A first end portion (18a) of the intermediate spacer (18) is located at a region which does not overlap the first partition section (62a) in a radial direction. The intermediate spacer (18) independently supports the outer cylinder unit (15) in a state in which a gap (Sa) is formed between an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate spacer (18) and an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder unit (13).

In a method for manufacturing an oxygenator, an intermediate spacer is disposed between a cylindrical heat exchange unit configured by winding a first hollow fiber membrane and a cylindrical gas exchange unit configured by winding a second hollow fiber membrane so that a first gap is formed between one end portions of the heat exchange unit and the gas exchange unit, and a first partition section of a first cover member is inserted into the first gap. In such an oxygenator, a first end portion of the intermediate spacer is located at a part that does not overlap the first partition section in a radial direction in the heat exchange unit and the gas exchange unit. The intermediate spacer is formed by winding an intermediate hollow fiber membrane.

The water treatment device according to the present disclosure includes: an electrochemical cell having electrodes including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a bipolar membrane; a tank; a power supply configured to apply power to the electrodes; a water circulation flow path having at least the tank and the electrochemical cell and through which water circulates; a circulation device configured to circulate water in the water circulation flow path; a raw water supply path configured to supply raw water to the water circulation flow path; and a control device. In performing water softening treatment in the electrochemical cell where power is applied to the electrodes so as to remove ions from raw water and soft water is produced, the control device drives the circulation device so as to circulate water in the water circulation flow path.

The present invention provides a device capable of reducing the resistance and increasing the ion exchange rate in an electrodialysis, electro-deionization, or capacitive deionization apparatus and a method for producing said device. More specifically, the device is an electrodialysis spacer designed to have an ionically conductive surface of either cationic nature, anionic nature or a combination of both, which act as conductive pathways for ions as they move towards their respective electrode. The method of producing said spacer involves coating a substrate, such as a woven mesh, expanded netting, extruded netting or non-woven material, with perm-selective ionomer solutions and applying that substrate to an inert spacer material that has undergone chemical or mechanical etching.

Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include a permeate frame with a membrane support structure having first and second membrane support plates that are free from perforations and that include a plurality of microgrooves configured to provide flow channels for at least part of the permeate stream. In some embodiments, the assemblies may include a return conduit fluidly connecting a buffer tank and a reformate conduit, a return valve assembly configured to manage flow in the return conduit, and a control assembly configured to operate a fuel processing assembly between run and standby modes based, at least in part, on detected pressure in the buffer tank and configured to direct the return valve assembly to allow product hydrogen stream to flow from the buffer tank to the reformate conduit when the fuel processing assembly is in the standby mode.

Hydrogen generation assemblies and methods of generating hydrogen are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include receiving a feed stream in a fuel processing assembly of the hydrogen generation assembly; and generating a product hydrogen stream in the fuel processing assembly from the received feed stream. Generating a product hydrogen stream may, in some embodiments, include generating an output stream in a hydrogen generating region from the received feed stream, and generating the product hydrogen stream in a purification region from the output stream. The method may additionally include receiving the generated product hydrogen stream in a buffer tank of the hydrogen generation assembly; and detecting pressure in the buffer tank via a tank sensor assembly. The method may further include stopping generation of the product hydrogen stream in the fuel processing assembly when the detected pressure in the buffer tank is above a predetermined maximum pressure.

A filter device (10), in particular for a tangential flow filtration device, has at least one fluid inlet (22), at least one retentate outlet (24) and at least one permeate outlet (26). The filter device (10) further has at least one membrane (16) which separates a retentate section (18) from a permeate section (20) in the filter device (10). Arranged in the retentate section (18) and/or in the permeate section (20) is at least one flow fitting (28) which is not formed from a woven or non-woven fabric, but from a structured plastic part, silicone part, metal part or ceramic part.

Support and drainage materials, filter including the materials, and methods of use are disclosed.

A method for forming a ceramic membrane module system includes disposing at least one membrane within a housing, disposing at least one sealing pad adjacent to the membrane, and disposing at least one drive plate assembly adjacent to the at least one sealing pad. The method further includes coupling the at least one drive plate assembly with the housing, applying force to the sealing pad with the drive plate assembly, sealing the capillaries of a membrane end with the at least one sealing pad and forming a seal between the at least one sealing pad and the membrane, and disposing potting material into the housing without plugging more than 15% of the capillaries with the potting material.

A filtration unit for purifying or treating fluid that includes one or more membrane units having a permeate section. The permeate section of the membrane units is fed fluid that passes through a sealing insert having a fluid inlet and a passage that discharges in fluid communication with the permeate section. The sealing insert is arranged in a support frame of the membrane unit to form a fluid channel for delivering fluid through the insert and along an outer perimeter surface that maintains performance of the membrane unit during operation.