A filter CF1 for filtering dialysis fluid comprises the following: a housing 52 inside of which a filter material 51 is accommodated and which is vertically long; an introduction port 53 that is disposed in the lower part of the housing and that introduces dialysis fluid from an upstream-side flow path 23a; a filtered fluid lead-out port 54 through which filtered dialysis fluid, which has passed through the filter material, is lead out from the upper part of the housing to a downstream-side flow path 23b; and an unfiltered fluid lead-out port 55 through which unfiltered fluid is lead out from the upper part of the housing to a waste fluid flow path 57. When removing the filter from a dialysis fluid circuit 4, fluid is suctioned from the inside of the housing via the upstream-side flow path by using fluid suction means 64A, and a gas is caused to flow into the housing from at least either one of the waste fluid flow path and the downstream-side flow path by using gas inflow means 65. The fluid may be suctioned from the downstream-side flow path and the gas may be caused to flow in from the upstream-side flow path, or the fluid may be suctioned from the waste fluid flow path and the gas may be caused to flow in from the downstream-side flow path. Residual fluid in the filter can be reduced.

The present invention relates to a method of operating a membrane filtration unit including plural hollow fiber membrane modules connected to each other in parallel, the method including: a filtration step; a collection step; and a recovery step, in which a relation of n.sub.1≥n.sub.2>n.sub.3 is satisfied, where n.sub.1 is the number of the hollow fiber membrane modules simultaneously used in executing the filtration step, n.sub.2 is the number of the hollow fiber membrane modules simultaneously used in executing the collection step, and n.sub.3 is the number of the hollow fiber membrane modules simultaneously used in executing the recovery step.

A system and method for the desalination of a wastewater stream. The system has an inlet pipe which directs wastewater stream which has saline water to a settling and separation bowl. The bowl has a filtration membrane located within the separation bowl. The bowl further has an outlet pipe to direct cleaned water out of the settling bowl.

A separation-membrane module 1 includes an element block 2 that is formed by arranging, in parallel, a plurality of separation-membrane elements 4 that are formed by arranging a pair of separation-membranes with their respective permeate surfaces in opposition to each other and sealing the edges of the pair of the membranes; and an aeration block 3 that includes an aeration pipe 31 and that is disposed under the element block 2. In the element block 2, at least one upper spacer 8 is disposed in the upper portion of each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4, and a lower spacer 9 is disposed under the upper spacer 8 in each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4. And the leftmost and the rightmost separation-membrane elements 4 of the plurality of the separation-membrane elements 4 are secured to a frame 12 at the lower spacers 9.

Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, a dead-end filtration system and method includes at least one tank and a plurality hollow fiber membranes positioned in the at least one tank. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.

A method of filtering a fluid with components includes providing an alternating pressure. The alternating pressure yields an oscillating transmembrane pressure through volume and pressure variations within a filtration chamber while sealing the filtration chamber. A separation surface can be housed in the filtration chamber wherein an influent is introduced. Components can be concentrated on the separation surface, effectively removing some or all of them from the fluid. To flush the filtration chamber and separation surface, a backwash fluid and components can be introduced and removed from the filtration chamber. While both the components are being concentrated and backwashed, the system can maintain the oscillating transmembrane pressure and varying volume and pressure relative to the separation surface.

Membrane filtration systems can be used to purify liquid streams for downstream use. In practice, foulant can build-up on the surface of a membrane within a filtration system over time. The effectiveness of the filtration system will deteriorate if the fouling is not properly controlled. In some examples, a method of controlling membrane fouling in a pressurized membrane system involves supplying a feed stream that is predominately air mixed with water to the membrane. In other words, the feed stream a greater volume of air than water, even though it is the water being processed by the membrane. Supplying the pressurized membrane system with a feed stream that contains a greater volume of air than water can yield significantly better performance than supplying the membrane with a feed stream that contains a greater volume of water than air.

A membrane defect inspection method is for a membrane module set including a plurality of membrane modules connected in parallel under a straight pipe portion of gas detection piping extending in a horizontal direction and communicating with primary spaces in the plurality of membrane modules to which raw water is supplied or secondary spaces. The method includes a gas injection process where gas is injected into spaces opposite to the primary spaces or the secondary spaces communicating with the gas detection piping while the gas detection piping is filled with water, and an echo detection process where an ultrasonic sensor is brought into contact with an end portion of the straight pipe portion of the gas detection piping, and a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor is detected.

A circulating water preparation system for cooling plants, a cooling system, in particular a recooling system, and a method for operating such a cooling system. In such a cooling system a surface of a heat exchanger is cooled by wetting with water, the water is collected in a collecting tank and returned by means of a water circuit for the renewed wetting of the surface of the heat exchanger. The method is characterised in that the water is purified by means of a filter, in particular a membrane filter. As a result considerably less biocide is needed to keep the water free of germs, in particular legionella, compared to conventional cooling systems or methods for operating such cooling systems.

A regenerable organic contaminant controller includes a carbon hollow fiber module that includes a passage between an inlet and an outlet, on an opposite end of the carbon hollow fiber module from the inlet, such that organic contaminants in contaminated air flowing through the passage are desorbed into pores of the carbon hollow fiber module. The regenerable organic contaminant controller also includes wires coupled to the inlet of the carbon hollow fiber module and to the outlet of the carbon hollow fiber module. The wires heat the carbon hollow fiber module based on a flow of electricity through the wires. The heat causes release of the organic contaminants from the pores of the carbon hollow fiber module.