Systems and methods for filtering materials from biologic fluids are discussed. Embodiments may be used to filter cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a human or animal subject. In an example, CSF is separated into a permeate and retentate using a tangential flow filter. The retentate is filtered again and then returned to the subject with the permeate. During operation of the system, various parameters may be modified, such as flow rate and waste rate.

A reverse osmosis arrangement is described, the first chamber (5) having a first port (7) and a second port (8) and the second chamber (6) being connected to a permeate outlet (9), wherein the first port (7) is connected to a first pump (13). Such a reverse osmosis arrangement should be operated with high efficiency. To this end the second port (8) is connected to a second pump (14).

Water or wastewater filtration processes and systems have a plurality of membrane modules, each having filter media therein, the plurality of membrane modules arranged in parallel fluid flow, a main bottom feed conduit, a main top feed conduit, and separate feed conduits fluidly connecting the main bottom feed conduits and the main top feed conduits to respective membrane modules. A main filtrate conduit, and separate filtrate conduits fluidly connect respective membrane modules to the main filtrate conduit. A backwash conduit fluidly connects the main filtrate conduit to respective membrane modules through the main top and bottom feed conduits. A pump having a pump feed conduit and a pump discharge conduit, the pump discharge conduit fluidly connected to the main top and bottom feed conduits, and a plurality of automatically controllable valves positioned in the main top and bottom feed conduits, the main filtrate conduit, the pump discharge conduit, and the backwash conduit, with a controller configured to actuate the plurality of automatically controllable valves to control feed and backwash flows through the membrane modules using pressure developed only by the pump. The pump is preferably operated by a variable-speed prime mover.

A method for filtering a dairy product is used in a filter system that includes at least one pump loop having a pump and a filter, with the pump being arranged to feed a feed product to the filter for filtering the feed product and outputting a permeate product and a retentate product. The method includes supplying the feed product to the pump at a feed pressure, during a first operational mode in which the feed pressure is below a first predefined threshold, controlling the pump to operate at a first power that is within a first percentage range of a maximum rated power of the pump, and during a second operational mode in which the feed pressure is above the first predefined threshold, controlling the pump to operate within a second percentage range of the maximum rated power which is higher than the first percentage range.

A cleaning method of a membrane filtration system in which a plurality of modules including an inlet side region and an outlet side region separated by a filtration membrane are connected in parallel by a common blow header pipe in the inlet side region, the method including backwashing and blowing in which after the backwashing is started, gas is introduced into the plurality of modules through a blow header pipe. The method further includes forming, before the blowing is started, a gas layer across an entire longitudinal direction of the blow header pipe.

A method for desalination is provided. An electric potential difference is applied across a saline solution, where a salinity of the saline solution is in a range of 2.5 to 7.8 parts per thousand. The saline solution is separated, using electrodialysis, into a concentrated saline solution and a first diluate. The concentrated saline solution is transferred to a reverse osmosis chamber. The concentrated saline solution is pumped through a partially permeable membrane, thereby removing salt ions from the concentrated saline solution, and creating a second diluate and a brine solution. A pressure of the solution is then increased, using a pressure exchanger, by transferring water pressure from the brine solution to the concentrated saline solution. The first diluate and the second diluate are combined, where a first recovery ratio of the first diluate is greater than a second recovery ratio of the second diluate.

A method of desalinating water, including the steps of when electricity costs between a first predetermined price and a second predetermined price, fill water is pumped into a reverse osmosis desalination unit to yield desalinated permeate and saltwater having a first salinity, when electricity costs less than the first predetermined price, fill water is pumped into a reverse osmosis desalination unit to yield desalinated permeate and saltwater having a second salinity, and when electricity costs greater than the second predetermined price, pure water is flowed into a reverse osmosis unit to yield pressurized saltwater which is run through a turbine to generate electricity. The first salinity is lower than the second salinity.

An automated single-use filtration device, in particular for large-volume filtration processes, comprises an unfiltrate inlet, one or more filter elements, a filtrate outlet and sensors for detecting specific process parameters and regulating mechanisms for adjusting specific process parameters. The sensors and regulating mechanisms are connected to an external monitoring and control system, which is adapted for evaluating and processing sensor data and for piloting the regulating mechanisms based on one or more control algorithms.

This specification describes membrane based filtration and softening systems and methods. A system has a microfiltration or ultrafiltration (MF/UF) membrane unit upstream of a nanofiltration or reverse osmosis (NF/RO) membrane unit, optionally with no intermediate tank. In some cases, the system and method may be used with feed water provided at municipal line pressure to the membranes. NF/RO permeate is collected in a tank and then pumped to a header. Treated water may be drawn from the header for use or recycled to the system, for example to backwash or flush one or both of the membrane units. In a combined process, NF/RO permeate flushes the feed side of the NF/RO unit and then backwashes the MF/UF unit. In another process, the MF/UF unit and NF/RO unit are filled with NF/RO permeate before being placed in a standby mode.

A single-use device for filtration of a large volume of medium including a plurality of single-use filter units, at least some of which, preferably all of which, are connected to each other by rigid pipes. The filter units include at least one prefilter and at least one main filter for virus filtration which is configured as a hollow fiber capsule.