A stack plate of a stack plate device of a humidifier includes inlay parts extending along two opposing front or longitudinal ends of the stack plate, a semipermeable layer disposed on and being stabilized by the inlay parts, and a frame disposed on multiple portions of the semipermeable layer that are disposed on the inlay parts, the frame circumferentially enclosing a through-opening in the stack plate. A remaining portion of the semipermeable layer completely covers the through-opening. An outer circumferential section of the semipermeable layer and the inlay parts are overmolded by the frame. Opposing front ends of the frame define inflow and outflow regions, respectively, on a first side of the frame for a second fluid, and opposing longitudinal ends of the frame define inflow and outflow regions, respectively, on a second side of the frame for a first fluid.

The disclosure relates to enhancing alkalinity of brine, e.g. seawater, using bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BPMED) without removing divalent cations that otherwise cause scaling. In one embodiment, a BPMED is employed wherein the brine volumetric flow rate through a basification compartment is greater at a given current density than that through a brine compartment which increases the pH of the brine output while keeping it below the precipitation pH. In one embodiment, the spacer located in the basification compartment is thicker than spacers elsewhere in the BPMED so as resist membrane distortion due to the increased hydrostatic pressure in the basification compartment given the greater volumetric flow. The brine output having increased alkalinity can be returned to the ocean to mitigate acidification and enable capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

An electrochemical separation system may be modular and may include at least a first modular unit and a second modular unit. Each modular unit may include a cell stack and a frame. The frame may include a manifold system. A flow distributor in the frame may enhance current efficiency. The flow distributor may define a labyrinth flow path for improved current efficiency.

A reverse osmosis system and method of operating the same includes a membrane housing comprising a reverse osmosis membrane therein. The membrane housing has a feed fluid input, a brine outlet and a permeate outlet; The system further includes a charge pump, a plurality of valves and a tank having a volume comprising a movable partition dividing the volume into a first volume and a second volume. The plurality of valves selectively couples the charge pump to the first volume or the second volume and the brine outlet to the second volume or the first volume respectively.

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.

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.

In at least one embodiment, a membrane filtration element is provided. The element may include at least one feed spacer including a first set of parallel strands extending in a first direction and including a plurality of first strands having a first thickness and a plurality of second strands having a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness. A second set of parallel strands may extend in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction. The second set of parallel strands may include a plurality of third strands having a third thickness and a plurality of fourth strands having a fourth thickness that is smaller than the third thickness. In one embodiment, the first and second sets of strands include alternating thick and thin strands, which reduce pressure drop in membrane filtration systems.

Disclosed herein are spacers having baffle designs and perforations for efficiently and effectively separating one or more membrane layers a membrane filtration system. The spacer includes a body formed at least in part by baffles that are interconnected, and the baffles define boundaries of openings or apertures through a thickness direction of the body of the spacer. Alternatively or additionally, passages or perforations may be present in the spacer layer or baffles for fluid flow there through, with the passages and baffles having a numerous different shapes and sizes.

A disposable cell enrichment kit includes a crossflow filtration device configured to be disposed along a main loop pathway and to receive a process volume containing a biological sample and utilize crossflow filtration, via a micro-porous membrane, to retain a specific cell population in a retentate from the process volume and to remove a permeate including certain biological components from the process volume. The crossflow filtration device includes a laminated filtration unit that includes the micro-porous membrane, a first mating portion, a second mating portion, and a membrane support. The membrane support includes a first plurality of structural features that define a first plurality of openings, wherein the first plurality of structural features are coupled to the micro-porous membrane and provide support to the micro-porous membrane, and the first plurality of openings allow the permeate to flow through them after crossing the micro-porous membrane.

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.