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.

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for algae cultivation including the integration of electrochemical carbonate production for enhancing algae growth. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for producing a sodium hydroxide from brine using an electrochemical cell, contacting the sodium hydroxide stream with a CO.sub.2 gas sweep and producing a carbonate stream, and cultivating an algae slurry in a cultivation vessel comprising at least a portion of the carbonate stream.

Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, a dead-end filtration system and method includes at least one tank and a plurality hollow fiber membranes positioned in the at least one tank. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.

Disclosed is a hollow fiber membrane module. The hollow fiber membrane module includes a housing including a first fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, and hollow fiber membrane bundles, each hollow fiber membrane bundle including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, disposed within the housing so that a first fluid flows inside the hollow fiber membranes and a second fluid flows outside the hollow fiber membranes, and each hollow fiber membrane bundle further includes porous tubes having both ends closed and including a plurality of pores formed on the side surfaces thereof. The hollow fiber membrane module removes a region, into which a fluid flowing outside a hollow fiber membrane bundle has difficulty in permeating, thus allowing the fluid to uniformly flow. Therefore, even if hollow flow membranes are highly integrated, performance of the hollow fiber membrane module may be maximized.

A gas sparger produces an intermittent flow of bubbles even if provided with a continuous gas flow. The sparger has a housing to collect a pocket of gas and a conduit to release some of the gas from the pocket when the pocket reaches a sufficient size. Optionally, a cover over an outlet from the conduit may break up or distribute the released gas. A large sparger for use with a commercial membrane module can comprise a plurality of smaller units.

A detonator positioning device for use with a detonator in a perforating gun assembly is described. The detonator positioning device is configured for electrically contactably forming an electrical connection within the perforating gun housing by contact. The detonator positioning device includes a body having a first end, a second end, and a central bore extending between the first and second ends. The central bore is adapted for receiving one or more electrically contactable components of a detonator. The detonator positioning device aligns at least one of the one or more electrically contactable components to form an electrical connection with a bulkhead assembly.

A system for aerating a submerged membrane is provided. The system includes: a device for supplying compressed air; at least one orifice for aerating the submerged membrane; a pipe for feeding air from the air supplying device to the at least one aeration orifice; a first valve for opening or closing an orifice between the pipe and the surrounding air; a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure in the pipe. The system is configured to perform at least one iteration of an operation to evacuate solid materials from the pipe, the said evacuation including at least: stopping supplying compressed air in the pipe and opening the first valve, causing reduction of the pressure in and penetration of liquid into the pipe; closing the first valve and resuming supplying compressed air in the pipe causing an increase in the pressure in and expulsion of liquid from the pipe through the at least one aeration orifice. The system is characterized in that it includes a processor configured to receive pressure measurements from the said pressure sensor that are performed during the said evacuation operation and to detect an anomaly of the aeration system on the basis of a comparison of the pressure measurements and at least one pressure threshold higher than or equal to the hydrostatic pressure of the column of liquid.

A membrane filter for submerged operation for filtering a liquid, comprising membrane elements and geyser elements for flushing the membrane elements in pulses using a gas, each membrane element having: hollow fiber membranes secured in a base element, each hollow fiber membrane having a lumen into which a liquid permeate is filterable out of the liquid, a permeate collection cavity connected to the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes for collecting the permeate from the hollow fiber membranes, a permeate outlet for discharging the permeate out of the permeate collection chamber, and a tubular housing enveloping the hollow fiber membranes of the membrane elements and penetrated by the permeate outlet, wherein the geyser elements are installed below the membrane elements, and each of the geyser elements having: a gas collection cavity and an outlet device for discharging the gas in pulses upwards out of the gas collection cavity.

Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, a dead-end filtration system and method includes at least one tank and a plurality hollow fiber membranes positioned in the at least one tank. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.

Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, an algae harvesting method is provided for performing dead-end filtration in an algae harvesting system having at least one treatment tank defining a plurality of filtration stages including at least a first filtration stage and a second filtration stage. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.