A method of operating an immersed microporous membrane module includes a step of monitoring membrane performance to sense the onset of sludging in the module. Differences in permeability between permeation in backwashes, or trends in permeability during backwashing and permeability during permeation, or both, are monitored. Solid deposits formed during the onset of sludging may be removed with an in situ de-sludging process. For example, the deposits may be removed by stopping permeation while aerating the module, optionally at an increased rate. At other times, the module is optionally aerated while permeate is withdrawn at an aeration rate correlated to flux. The method may be used in particular with a membrane module having parallel textured flat sheet membranes suspended between a pair of vertically oriented headers. An aerator may be made from an open bottomed channel having an array of holes rising and concentrated towards the center of the channel.

A predictive system for monitoring fouling of membranes of a desalination or water softening plant includes ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, and/or nanofiltration (NF) membranes. In addition, the system includes one or more UF skids including a plurality of UF units. Each UF unit contains therein a plurality of UF membranes. Further, the system includes one or more RO/NF skids including one or more RO/NF arrays. Each of the one or more RO/NF arrays includes a plurality of RO units, with each RO unit containing therein a plurality of RO membranes, a plurality of NF units, with each NF unit containing therein a plurality of NF membranes, or a combination thereof. Still further, the system includes UF sensors and/or RO/NF sensors. The system also includes a controller comprising a processor in signal communication with the UF sensors and/or the RO/NF sensors.

Processes and systems for filtering a liquid sample are provided. Batches of a liquid sample can be routed to two or more cycling tanks (e.g., first and second cycling tanks). Upon filling a first cycling tank, a first batch of the liquid sample can be routed to a filtration assembly by a continuous diafiltration process that includes routing produced retentate back to the first cycling tank or to a collection vessel. Upon filling a second cycling tank, a second batch of the liquid sample is routed to the filtration assembly by a continuous diafiltration process that includes routing produced retentate back to the second cycling tank or to the collection vessel. The filling and continuous diafiltration of batches of the liquid sample continues to alternate between the two or more cycling tanks until a total product volume is processed.

A method for processing a fluid with forward osmosis process includes providing one or more tubular membranes each including a tubular nonwoven base layer on the outside of the tubular membrane forming an outer shell of the tubular membrane and providing a lumen for feed flow; a polymer substrate layer on the lumen-side of the tubular membrane comprising three regions, including a region where the polymer substrate layer is partially intruded into the tubular base layer, a region with an open macrovoid structure and a region with an asymmetrical foamy layer, where the partially intruded region forms an intermediate layer; and a functional top layer on the polymer substrate layer. The tubular base layer comprises a longitudinal weld. The method includes providing the feed flow through the lumen and providing a draw solution on the outer shell side of the tubular membrane; and processing the feed flow with the membrane.

A direct water purifier comprises: a first filter for filtering water flowing in through a first flow path; a second filter receiving, through a second flow path, and filtering the water filtered by the first filter; a first valve, provided on the second flow path; a pump, provided on the second flow path, for supplying, to the second filter, water at a water pressure equal to or greater than a preset water pressure; a third filter receiving, through a third flow path, and filtering the water filtered by the second filter; a second valve, provided on the third flow path, for decreasing a pressure in the flow path; a third valve, provided at a rear end of the second valve, for preventing a backflow of the water; and a heating unit receiving the water filtered by the third filter and heating the water to a preset temperature.

A hollow fiber membrane module 100 includes: a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 10; a container 20 storing the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 10; and a feed water inlet 201 provided at one end portion of the container 20 such that a direction in which feed water flows into the container 20 is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 10. A permeation flux of the hollow fiber membranes 10 at a transmembrane pressure difference of 0.1 MPa is higher than or equal to 850 liter/m.sup.2/h.

The inventions discloses a method for reducing fouling on the surface of a ceramic membrane or filter with a recalcitrant filtration cake thereon that is non-responsive to regular back-flushing or other physical means of removal, where the ceramic membrane or filter is subjected to steam fast-flushing by injecting steam directly in feed channel of the ceramic membrane or filter while back-flushing the ceramic membrane or filter at the same time to heat and remove fouled layer on the ceramic membrane or filter while cooling a selective layer of the ceramic membrane or filter to avoid thermal shocking of the ceramic membrane or filter, the surface is cleaned with the ceramic membrane or filter being stationary.

The ultrafiltration system for treatment of coal mine water includes an intermediate water pool, an ultrafiltration membrane pool, an adjustment pool, a water production pool, and a water removal pool; wherein the ultrafiltration membrane pool is connected to the intermediate water pool through a water inlet valve and a water inlet pump, connected to the water production pool through a backwashing valve and a backwashing pump, and connected to the water removal pool through a water production valve and water production pump, and the adjustment pool is connected to the ultrafiltration membrane pool; and an ultrafiltration membrane assembly and a cleaning device are disposed in the ultrafiltration membrane pool, an aeration tube is disposed in the ultrafiltration membrane pool below the ultrafiltration membrane assembly, the aeration tube is connected to a blower, and a water production channel in a ceramic membrane assembly is connected to the water production pool.

A fluid purification system has cells whose purifying capability can be regenerated. Some of the cells are arranged in series to reach a high level of purification. An automatic valve network is controlled to cycle the cells in a way that levels the loads on each, thereby maximizing the service interval for replacing expired cells, enabling all of the cells to be replaced at the same time after having each contributing approximately equally to the purification load, and operated such that at any one time, at least one cell is regenerated so as to enable continuous up-time.

A submerged offshore reverse osmosis desalination apparatus and method uses product water from the apparatus and an onshore cooler or heat exchanger to provide or improve the cooling of a Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC) system, power plant, data center, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system, or Rankine Cycle heat engine.