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.

The present invention relates to a high-flux forward osmosis membrane assembly and a forward osmosis module using the same, and more specifically, to a forward osmosis membrane assembly capable of improving the flux inside an osmosis membrane and simultaneously promoting uniform flux along a fluid flow route by forming more channels inside the osmosis membrane in order to allow an osmotic action to be smoothly performed even if formed in a spiral wound shape, and minimizing the separation, which could occur, of a different osmosis membrane adhering to each other by minimizing the concentration polarization on the surface of the forward osmosis membrane by increasing the flux on the surface of the osmosis membrane through the promotion of turbulence along the channels and simultaneously forming separate channels inside the osmosis membrane, and a forward osmosis module in which the active area of a separation membrane capable of performing a smooth osmotic action and forming an osmotic pressure gradient is maximized by using the same.

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.

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.

The present invention relates to the design of a face mask that incorporates a waste derived warp knit polyethylene terephthalate (PET) permeate spacer layer for daily usage in current pandemic conditions. The central layer in the face masks is a selective hydrophobic layer that is recycled from waste RO membrane modules and is intended for usage as a non-medicated multi-layered face mask for common man. The mechanical strength and shape holding capability enables the preparation of the face mask in a unique 3D shape that extends from the nose bridge to the chin, leaving an air gap between the mouth and the inner layer of the face mask. Design advantage obtained by the incorporation of the PET layer enables smooth facial movements and hindrance free speaking. The 3D folding feature of the mask is seamless and fits snug on the user's face that which prevents spectacle fogging and chances of infections.

Printed spacer membrane elements offer the unique advantage of applying any pattern on the membrane surface to act as the feed spacer material. This is in contrast to conventional feed spacer mesh material that is uniform in thickness and density throughout the mesh. More open feed spaces can be utilized but may also result in higher stress concentration, and where the spacer material comes in contact with the opposing membrane leaf. This patent presents concepts for reducing the damage on membrane leaves by increasing the concentration of the print pattern near the center tube where the stress concentration on the membrane leaves is greatest, orienting the membrane sheets prior to rolling to minimize damage from slippage during rolling, moving the fold away from the first features to minimize leaks at the insertion point.

Printed spacer membrane elements offer the unique advantage of applying any pattern on the membrane surface to act as the feed spacer material. This is in contrast to conventional feed spacer mesh material that is uniform in thickness and density throughout the mesh. More open feed spaces can be utilized allowing closer spacing between membrane sheets in the feed space which allows more membrane sheet to be wrapped around the membrane element-resulting in more permeate flow-while simultaneously reducing the pressure loss from the feed to reject end of the element. Unique design features of printed spacers dramatically improve performance of membrane elements in contrast to conventional feed spacer mesh elements in the prior art.

Devices and methods are provided for inducing ventricular growth in a single ventricle patient that include a plurality of anchors spaced apart from one another in an annular configuration; a plurality of springs with respective springs coupled to adjacent anchors around a perimeter of the annular configuration to bias the anchors to expand radially outwardly; and one or more elongate elements extending around the perimeter between the anchors to limit radial expansion of the anchors.

A membrane filtration system, capable of effectively removing foreign matter attached to a separation membrane while saving energy by reciprocating the separation membrane, includes a treatment bath, a membrane support frame disposed in the treatment bath, a separation membrane module installed in the membrane support frame, a reciprocating part connected with the membrane support frame to reciprocate the membrane support frame, a sludge floating part disposed on a lower end of the membrane support frame to float sludge accumulated in the treatment bath, and a control part controlling a reciprocating distance or frequency of the separation membrane module.

A membrane filtration system, capable of effectively removing foreign matter attached to a separation membrane while saving energy by reciprocating the separation membrane, includes a treatment bath, a membrane support frame disposed in the treatment bath, a separation membrane module installed in the membrane support frame, a reciprocating part connected with the membrane support frame to reciprocate the membrane support frame, and a sludge floating part disposed on a lower end of the membrane support frame to float sludge accumulated in the treatment bath. The separation membrane module includes an upper frame, a lower frame, and a hollow fiber membrane provided between the upper frame and the lower frame.