A membrane gas separator with a built-in valve along with a method of open and closing the membrane gas separator are disclosed herein. The membrane separator contains an an inlet chamber, hollow selective fibres, an outlet chamber, a central core element and a flushing space. The membrane separator contains a built-in combined valve in the outlet chamber and a the central space and a check valve at an inlet manifold. The built-in valve contains a throttling section to ensure a reduced backflow of a final product from the outlet manifold to the inner space of hollow fibres, and the sealing section to stop the flow of the flushing medium from the outlet chamber to the flushing space when no inlet medium flows through the separator. The method of opening of the membrane separator includes opening of the sealing section and subsequent opening and deactivation of the throttling section. The method of closing of the membrane separator includes closing and activation of the throttling section and closing of the sealing section.

A membrane assembly of an energy and vapor exchanger includes a gas-permeable membrane having a first major surface that faces a gas flow and a second major surface that faces a liquid desiccant flow. An inlet region is proximate an inlet edge of the gas-permeable membrane. The inlet region includes a vortex generator that creates a vortex in the gas flow as it moves from the inlet edge to an outlet edge of the gas-permeable membrane. The vortex enhances mixing of fluids along the gas-permeable membrane.

Ceramic proton-conducting oxide membranes are described herein, which are useful for separating steam from organic chemicals under process conditions. The membranes have a layered structure, with a dense film of the perovskite over a porous composite substrate comprising the perovskite material and a metallic material (e.g., Ni, Cu, or Pt). The perovskite comprises an ABO.sub.3-type structure, where “A” is Ba and “B” is a specified combination of Ce, Zr, and Y. The perovskite ceramic materials described herein have an empirical formula of Ba(Ce.sub.xZr.sub.1-x-nY.sub.n)O.sub.3-δ, wherein 0<x<0.8 (e.g., 0.1≤x≤0.7 or 0.2≤x≤0.5); and 0.05≤n≤0.2; and δ=n/2. In some embodiments n is about 0.2. In some other embodiments 0.6≤x≤0.8; and n is about 0.2, such as Ba(Ce.sub.0.7Zr.sub.0.1Y.sub.0.2)O.sub.3-δ, also referred to herein as BCZY712.

A liquid fuel synthesis system includes a liquid fuel synthesis portion and a sweep gas supply unit. The liquid fuel synthesis portion is partitioned into a non-permeation side space and a permeation side space by the separation membrane. A temperature of the sweep gas flowing into the permeation side space is higher than at least one of a temperature of the raw material gas flowing into the non-permeation side space and a temperature of a first outflow gas flowing out of the non-permeation side space. A temperature of a second outflow gas flowing out of the permeation side space is higher than at least one of the temperature of the raw material gas flowing into the non-permeation side space and the temperature of the first outflow gas flowing out of the non-permeation side space.

A dehumidification mechanism for an appliance includes a blower that delivers humid process air along an airflow path. A drum is positioned along the airflow path. A condensing apparatus dehumidifies the humid air to define dehumidified air. A membrane has a plurality of nanopores that define a portion of the airflow path within the condensing apparatus. The humid air is delivered along the membrane having the plurality of nanopores and the nanopores operate through capillary condensation to dehumidify the humid air and separate condensate away from the humid air to define the dehumidified air. The condensate removed by the nanopore membrane is delivered away from the airflow path and to a condensate collection area within the appliance.

A contactor system includes a plurality of contactor panels. Each contactor panel includes a frame member and a membrane array adapted to be received within the frame member. The membrane array defines a first end portion, a second end portion, and a plurality of hollow fibers. The contactor system also includes a first manifold in selective fluid communication with the first end portion of the membrane array of each contactor panel. The contactor system further includes a second manifold in direct fluid communication with the second end portion of the membrane array of each contactor panel. The contactor system includes a controller configured to provide selective fluid communication between the first manifold and the first end portion of the membrane array of each contactor panel.

A cooling system utilizes an organic ionic salt composition for dehumidification of an airflow. The organic ionic salt composition absorbs moisture from an inlet airflow to produce an outlet airflow with a reduce moisture from that of the inlet airflow. The organic ionic salt composition may be regenerated, wherein the absorbed moisture is expelled by heating with a heating device. The heating device may be an electrochemical heating device, such as a fuel cell, an electrochemical metal hydride heating device, an electrochemical heat pump or compressor, or a condenser of a refrigerant cycle, which may utilize an electrochemical pump or compressor. The efficiency of the cooling system may be increased by utilization of the waste heat the cooling system. The organic ionic salt composition may circulate back and forth or in a loop between a conditioner, where it absorbs moisture, to a regenerator, where moisture is desorbed by heating.

Disclosed is an electrochemical dehumidification device based on a screen-type amphoteric ion exchange membrane electrode, comprising a core dehumidification unit which comprises, sequentially from one side to the other side, an anode air pathway, a screen-type anode electrode, an amphoteric ion exchange membrane, a screen-type cathode electrode and a cathode air pathway. The core dehumidification unit performs active dehumidification when a voltage is applied, and performs passive dehumidification when no voltage is applied. A number of the core dehumidification unit is equal to or more than one, the core dehumidification units are capable of being connected in parallel, in serial or in an overlapping mode; meanwhile, the units may also be used in combination with other dehumidification devices. The device achieves active/passive dehumidification, and is ultra-compact and flexible.

A porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane of the present disclosure has a water vapor permeability, as measured according to Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) L 1099 (method B-1), of 150000 g/(m.sup.2.Math.day) or more in a thickness direction of the membrane. The porous PTFE membrane of the present disclosure, when attached as a waterproof air-permeable membrane to a housing of an electrical component or electrical device, allows water vapor residing inside the housing to be quickly discharged out of the housing.

A refrigerator appliance includes a storage compartment having a crisper assembly disposed therein. The crisper assembly includes a drawer, a lid, and a shelf. The lid is fixed to the storage compartment and remains stationary therewith. The drawer and the shelf are each configured to be extended or retracted relative to the storage compartment and are provided in a stacked arrangement. The lid seals the drawer when the drawer is in the retracted position.