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 membrane system including an anti-fouling layer and a method of applying an anti-fouling layer to a membrane surface are provided. In an embodiment, the surface is a microfiltration (MF) or an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane surface. The anti-fouling layer can include a stimuli responsive layer and a dynamic protective layer applied over the stimuli responsive layer that can be a coating on a surface of the membrane. The stimuli responsive polymer layer can act as an adhesive prior to coating with the dynamic protective layer to aid in adhering the dynamic protective layer to the membrane surface. The dynamic protective layer can be formed by suitable nanoparticles that can prevent adhesion of foulants directly to the membrane surface. The stimuli responsive layer can be responsive to physio-chemical stimuli to cause a release of the stimuli responsive layer and the dynamic protective layer including foulants from the membrane.

The present invention is concerned with the treatment of produced water, that may be obtained from a chemically enhanced oil recovery process using viscosity-increasing polymeric compounds. Said treatment comprises particularly the steps of obtaining a produced water, such as from an oil-water mixture recovered from an oil-bearing formation, wherein the produced water comprises the viscosity-increasing polymeric compounds; and, of directing the produced water to a specific filtration device, and subjecting the produced water to filtration, for obtaining a retentate stream and a permeate stream. Said process allows particularly obtaining a permeate comprising the viscosity-increasing polymeric compounds, said permeate being substantially free of suspended solids, free oil and emulsified oil.

In order to improve the lifespan of the semi-permeable membrane or the yield of the reverse osmosis system in the treatment of drinking water by means of reverse osmosis, the invention provides a device for treating drinking water with at least one reverse osmosis vessel which is divided into at least two chambers by at least one semi-permeable membrane, wherein a first chamber has an inlet for the water to be treated and an outlet for the concentrate, and the second chamber has an outlet for the treated water, wherein the device comprises at least one pressure vessel which is connected to the outlet for the treated water via a line, wherein the device is designed in such a way that, in an idle state, treated water flows out of the pressure vessel, through the semi-permeable membrane and into the first chamber.

Methods and apparatuses for adding gas bubbles to a tank containing liquid at locations that allow the bubbles to rise to the top of the tank are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a membrane filtration system connected to a gas source and a drain. The membrane filtration system draws gas into the system from the gas in response to a reduced pressure profile created by opening a drain. The gas may be air supplied at atmospheric pressure.

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.

A filtration device includes a continuous first unit including a first membrane that separates a liquid into first permeated and non-permeated liquids, a first adjuster that adjusts a flow rate of the first permeated liquid to be substantially constant, and a first liquid scale that detects a liquid amount, a second unit including a second membrane that separates another liquid into second permeated and non-permeated liquids, a second adjuster that adjusts a flow rate of the second permeated liquid to be substantially constant, and a second liquid scale that detects another liquid amount, a first controller that controls the liquid amount in the first storage tank based on measurement values from continuous two first units or from the continuous first and second units, and a second controller that controls the another liquid amount based on a measurement value from the second unit.

A water purifier and a filter for the water purifier are provided. The water purifier includes a raw water flow path formed to bring in raw water from the outside, a purified water flow path connected to the raw water flow path for the raw water to flow in a first direction, a filter located in the purified water flow path to filter the raw water, a bypass flow path branched from the purified water flow path for the raw water to bypass the filter and connected to the purified water flow path on a downstream side of the filter in the first direction, a washing flow path branched from the bypass flow path and connected to the purified water flow path on a downstream side of the filter in the first direction, and a drain flow path connected to the filter to guide the raw water flowing into the filter to a second direction. The filter includes a raw water inlet through which raw water flowing in the first direction is introduced, a purified water outlet through which purified water filtered is released, and a drain outlet through which wash water having washed the filter is discharged.

A water desalination system includes a first set of ultrafiltration membranes, a second set of ultrafiltration membranes, a first backwashing system configured to treat at least one of the first set of ultrafiltration membranes or the second set of ultrafiltration membranes with brine generated by a reverse osmosis process, and a second backwashing system configured to treat at least one of the first set of ultrafiltration membranes or the second set of ultrafiltration membranes with one or more chemicals and reverse osmosis permeate water.

A device (1) for purification of water driven by gravity through a purification unit between an upper dirt water container (2) and a lower clean water tank (3). A backwash system may be integrated, the system comprising a receptacle (8) for accumulation of the backwash water to prevent consumption thereof by mistake.