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.

A modular frame (20) comprises three distinct sections, an outer section (1), a flow section (2), and an active section (3). The frame further comprises a gasket (22, 23) positioned adjacent to the modular frame (20). Further a distance bar (21) extends away from periphery of the modular frame (20). Further the outer section (1) comprises an outer frame (27) and an inner frame (26), wherein a plurality of cross-member (40) are positioned between outer frame (27) and an inner frame (26). The active section (3) further comprises a grid (14) consisting of plurality of flow channels. The flow section (2) further comprises one internal flow passage (15, 16) and one external flow passage (17, 18), wherein the at least one internal flow passage (15, 16) and the at least one external flow passage (17, 18) are connected to the grid (14) in the active section (3).

A submersible water desalination apparatus includes an array of generally parallel water separation membrane cartridges each having a water separation membrane, an impermeable cartridge wall surrounding the membrane, and a product water collection tube that collects from inside the cartridges at least partially desalinated product water passing through the membrane, and through which the at least partially desalinated water exits the cartridges and enters a product water collection manifold. The cartridges are mounted in a perforated divider plate. In embodiments, a) the manifold is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the collection tubes, orb) the divider plate is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the cartridge walls or ends, or both a) and b). The adhesive reduces the likelihood of leakage at the manifold or divider plate.

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 submersible reverse osmosis desalination apparatus uses low temperature concentrate or brine from the desalination apparatus to provide a high volume cold liquid stream to an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) heat engine. The OTEC engine also employs a warm liquid stream and uses the cold and warm liquid streams to obtain electrical power from a closed-cycle or open-cycle heat exchange and generator system. Use of the concentrate or brine stream provides a much greater liquid volume and much greater cold thermal energy content than would be obtained by using cold desalinated product water from the desalination apparatus in the OTEC heat engine.

Forward osmosis membrane vessels, and particularly stackable forward osmosis membrane vessels, are provided as well as systems and methods thereof. The forward osmosis membrane vessel has a body, a strong draw solution chamber, a first and a second semipermeable membrane, and a brine chamber. The first and second semipermeable membranes each are disposed within the cavity of the body. The first and second semipermeable membranes are configured to produce diluted draw solution streams and brine streams. The brine chamber is disposed at least partially between the first semipermeable membrane and the second semipermeable membrane. The forward osmosis membrane vessel may be configured such that in a stacked configuration the brine chamber and the strong draw solution chamber of the forward osmosis membrane vessel aligns with a brine chamber and a strong draw solution chamber of an adjacent second forward osmosis membrane vessel.

A submersible water desalination apparatus includes an array of hot-swappable water separation membrane modules arrayed in an approximately polygonal configuration around a product water collection conduit that represents or is proximate to and generally aligned with a central axis of the array; a plurality of hot-swap product water valves connected to the conduit and detachably connected to generally radially-extending product water collection manifolds in fluid communication with a plurality of water separation membrane cartridges within the modules; the modules having in cross-section generally tapered module sides that converge towards the conduit and assist in underwater docking and attachment of a replacement module to a hot-swap product water valve.

A submersible water desalination apparatus includes a plurality of water separation membrane elements that when supplied with salinated water under pressure at a first depth will produce at least partially desalinated product water and concentrate or brine; a product water collector that receives product water from the membrane elements; and a permeate conduit that transports product water from the collector downwardly to a motorized submersible pump remotely located from the membrane elements and collector at a second depth greater than the first depth. The second depth is sufficiently greater than the first depth so that the height of a standing column of product water in the product water collector and permeate conduit between the membrane elements and the suction side of the pump maintains a net positive suction head that prevents inlet side cavitation during pump startup and operation.

Power generated by a wind turbine is applied to drive reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. Rather than discharging the brine back into the ocean, it is concentrated and modified through industrial-scale processes to produce sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Direct air capture of CO.sub.2 occurs when liquid NaOH, created from the RO desalination brine, is conveyed to the rotor hub and emitted from the wind turbine blades to react with CO.sub.2 in the atmosphere. The power of an offshore wind turbine is used for the onboard production of fresh water to supply shoreside water needs, or water may be electrolyzed to produce hydrogen while adding the vital process of CO.sub.2 sequestration to the ocean.

A process and system to control the final product quality in a system for separating olefins and paraffins in a membrane system. A small finishing membrane stage is added to an existing membrane system that takes a slip stream from the product, purifies it to a very high concentration of propylene and blends it back into the product stream.