To provide a modified forward osmosis (FO) membrane module for flow regime improvement, the FO membrane module includes but not limited to: a water inlet; a water outlet; a forward osmosis (FO) membrane; a frame; and folded plates for improving flow regime in which draw solution is introduced into the water inlet of membrane module, then flowed through flow channels composed by three opposite folded plates vertically arranged on upper and bottom portions of the frame alternatively along horizontal direction with equal space; and drawn out from the water outlet. The flow regime improvement is achieved by increasing number of flow-guide folded plate, which results in the decrease of internal concentration polarization and membrane fouling. Structure of frame is modified to improve flow regime and to satisfy requirement of convenient and reliable connections between numbers of membrane modules in the FO membrane system.

A tangential flow filtration manifold takes a modular form for interconnection in a manifolded arrangement for aggregating a total filtration area of the aggregate filter (membrane) surface. A plurality of modular TFF cassette filters may be or stacked on the TFF manifold such that it allows the number of interconnected filters, as well as the membrane surface area within each cassette, to be readily reconfigured. A single output, or filtrate connection on the TFF manifold simplifies fluidic plumbing connections for directing and gathering the filtrate (permeate) produced as output.

A modular header for a filtration module assembly is provided. The modular header includes a main body, a first liquid passageway and a second liquid passageway extending through the main body, and a gas passageway extending through the main body. The gas passageway has a first open end formed at a first side surface of the main body and an opposing second open end formed at a second side surface of the main body. An auxiliary adapter is secured to the main body at at least one of the first and second open ends of the gas passageway.

A humidifier comprising a wound portion wrapped around a central axis and comprising enclosures, a first one the enclosures comprising a first pair of semipermeable membranes separated by a first spacer layer to form one among wet-gas channels, and a second one of the enclosures comprising a second pair of semipermeable membranes separated by a second spacer layer to form one among dry-gas channels. The dry-gas channels are configured to receive a dry gas through at least part of a first frontal area of the wound portion and in an axial direction along the dry-gas channels. The wet-gas channels are configured to receive a wet gas through at least part of a second frontal area of the wound portion and in the axial direction along the wet-gas channels, the second frontal area being opposite to the first frontal area.

A multi-element filtration vessel included spaced beams for supporting and/or aligning filtration elements from below. The filtration elements have bottom ends adapted to rest upon adjacent support beams and also to extend between them to form a cavity that can capture feed fluid and an aeration gas and conduct it into the filtration element. In another aspect, a multi-element filtration vessel has removable aerators mounted on a projection on the wall of the filtration vessel.

A membrane capsule for biological and chemical separations comprising a cassette comprising an upper surface and a lower surface adjoined by a cassette sidewall, an inlet and an outlet located on the upper and lower surfaces of the cassette, tubes fluidly connected to the inlet and the outlet, holes or slots in the tubes to facilitate separation, and a membrane wrapped, pleated, and/or spiral wound around each of the tubes. Methods of separation comprising flowing fluid flow through the inlet of the membrane capsule, allowing the fluid to permeate through the holes or slots of the tubes, separating biological and/or non-biological substances, collecting the fluid within a reservoir, and draining fluid from the reservoir.

Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and/or combinations thereof.

A modular element for making reverse osmosis filtering devices includes: at least one first container and a second container, each of which is provided with a tubular lateral wall, with a bottom plate which closes a first axial end of said lateral wall, with an inlet, with a first outlet and with a second outlet, the first and second containers being arranged so that the respective lateral walls are arranged adjacent and have mutually parallel central axes, and a scavenging duct which connects the second outlet of the first container with the inlet of the second container, the first container, the second container and the scavenging duct are obtained as a single monolithic body.

A multi-stage direct contact membrane distillation (MS-DCMD) system and a process for using the MS-DCMD are provide. The MS-DCMD includes a plurality of modules, wherein each module includes a feed chamber fluidically 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. Each module includes a cold chamber fluidically coupled to a cold-water feed line and a cold-water return line, wherein cold water is circulated through the cold chamber. Each module further includes a membrane separating the feed chamber from the cold chamber, wherein the membrane allows transportation of vapor from the feed chamber to the cold chamber while blocking liquid from moving from the feed chamber to the cold chamber.

A distributor assembly, which is provided in particular for a separation unit of a modular process device arrangement, including a fluid distributor device having a plurality of fluid ports, wherein the fluid distributor device can selectively establish and block fluid communications between the fluid ports. The distributor assembly further includes a connecting element and a retaining element. The connecting element is adapted to be attached to one of the fluid ports, and the distributor assembly includes an associated mounting slot at the fluid port. The mounting slot is adapted to the shape of the retaining element such that the retaining element can be inserted into the mounting slot up to a defined retaining position, in which the retaining element engages the connecting element and fixes it in place.