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.

An electrochemical cell according to the present disclosure includes a casing provided with an inflow port and an outflow port, a bipolar membrane laminated body in which two or more bipolar membranes are laminated so as to be opposed, electrodes disposed so as to sandwich the bipolar membrane laminated body, and a first diffusion member disposed between the inflow port and the bipolar membrane laminated body, and provided with through holes communicating between the inflow port and the bipolar membrane laminated body. The first diffusion member is formed such that each of the through holes provided in a peripheral edge portion has a larger opening area than an opening area of the through holes provided in a central portion. This can uniformize a flow of water, so that water treatment can be efficiently executed.

Embodiments of the present invention provide replacement of conventional separate feed spacer mesh with features placed, deposited or integrated on or into either the porous permeate carrier, the inactive side of the membrane sheet, or select portions of the membrane surface.

Systems, methods, and devices for preparation of water for various uses including blood treatment are described. In embodiments, fluid is passed through a first filtration step which is effective for creating purified water and a pair of ultrafilters placed at the outlet. The ultrafilters are separated by an intervening flow path to prevent grow-through from the outlet end upstream. In embodiments, a recirculation path with an air removing filter helps to eliminate air from the ultimate product water.

A filtration arrangement for a filtration device having a container. The filtration arrangement includes at least two or more hollow shafts, rotatably mounted in a machine frame, on which a plurality of membrane filter disks are arranged. At least one drive device is allocated to the plurality of hollow shafts. Permeate can be discharged from the container through the hollow shafts. Each hollow shaft can be inserted into the container on one of the ends thereof having the plurality of membrane filter disks, such that the opposite end thereof protrudes out of the container. Several or many of the membrane filter disks are arranged axially spaced apart on each hollow shaft, and deformable spacer sleeves are arranged between one part or all adjacent membrane filter disks and axially space apart the membrane filter disks on the hollow shafts.

A fluid separation apparatus comprising a fluid separation membrane is provided. The fluid separation apparatus comprises a fluid separation membrane extending in one direction and having a cross-section with a closed curve shape, wherein the fluid separation membrane has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and an outer diameter of 60 mm to 360 mm when the cross-section is adjusted to be circular.

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.

A cross-flow membrane filtration channel defined by at least one membrane, wherein at least one surface of the channel is inclined at an angle away from a centreline of the channel in a direction of feed flow in the channel.

The present disclosure is directed to ion-exchange systems and devices that include composite ion-exchange membranes having 3D printed spacers on them. These 3D printed spacers can drastically reduce the total intermembrane spacing within the system/device while maintaining a reliable sealing surface around the exterior border of the membrane. By adding the spacers directly to the membrane using additive manufacturing, the amount of material used can be reduced without adversely impacting the manufacturability of the composite membrane as well as allow for complex spacer geometries that can reduce the restrictions to flow resulting in less pressure drop associated with the flow in the active area of the membranes.

Provided is a flow path material for a liquid separation apparatus, which is less likely to collapse upon the application of a high pressure to the flow path material and causes a lower reduction of the flow rate. The flow path material for a liquid separation apparatus includes a tricot fabric containing thermoplastic core-sheath composite fibers each made of two kinds of polyester resins having different melting points or softening points. The flow path material for a liquid separation apparatus is configured such that: in the thermoplastic core-sheath composite fibers, a high-melting-point component is placed in the core, while a low-melting-point component is placed in the sheath; the tricot fabric is a tricot knitted fabric knitted with a two-guide-reed knitting machine using the thermoplastic core-sheath composite fibers as a front yarn and a back yarn and is rigidified by the thermoplastic core-sheath composite fibers being bonded to each other; the tricot fabric has a wale density of 45 to 70 yarns/inch (2.54 cm) and a course density of 40 to 70 yarns/inch (2.54 cm); and, when the tricot fabric is heat-pressed at 90? C. and 4.0 MPa for 3 minutes, the percentage of change in the thickness of the tricot fabric before and after pressing is 10% or less.