The invention relates to a multistage membrane distillation apparatus (5000), comprising a plurality of multistage membrane distillation modules (500, 600), the modules being configured to be flowed through in parallel by a liquid (F) to be concentrated. Each module comprises a plurality of serial condensation/evaporation stages (50, 60) configured to be flowed through in series by the liquid to be concentrated. Each condensation/evaporation stage comprises a plurality of parallel condensation/evaporation elements (101, 102) configured to be flowed through in parallel by the liquid to be concentrated. Each condensation/evaporation element comprises at least one condensation unit and at least one evaporation unit. The apparatus further comprises at least one of: a centralized heating stage configured to generate steam and to provide the steam to each of the modules in parallel, and a centralized condensation stage configured to receive steam from each of the modules in parallel and to condensate the steam.

The invention relates to a distillation apparatus for producing water for injection, comprising: at least one membrane distillation module (500, 600), the module being configured to be flowed through by a liquid to be concentrated, wherein: the module (500, 600) comprises at least one condensation/evaporation stage (50, 60), the condensation/evaporation stage (50, 60) comprises at least one condensation/evaporation element (101, 102), and the condensation/evaporation element comprises at least one condensation unit (101) and at least one evaporation unit (102), the apparatus further comprising: a heating stage (300) configured to generate steam and to provide the steam to the at least one condensation/evaporation stage (50, 60) of the at least one module, and a droplet elimination device (320) comprising a membrane (321) configured to separate droplets from the steam generated by the heating stage.

The invention relates to a modular flow system having a plurality of frame elements (101, 102) configured to be combined together to form a stack for forming a functional member. This functional member may be in particular a membrane distillation stage, a vapor generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a filter and/or a pervaporation stage. The frame elements (101, 102) each include: ⋅ an outer frame (39) and an inner frame (43), the inner frame (43) encasing a central inner region (40) and being surrounded by the outer frame (39), and ⋅ passage openings (13 to 16) and vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) arranged between the outer frame (39) and the inner frame (43). At least one of the two vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) is connected to the central inner region (40) by at least one vapor and/or liquid channel opening (22) constituting a through hole in the inner frame. In the frame elements (101, 102), when combined together to form the modular flow system, the vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) are arranged above the inner region (40).

The invention relates to a modular flow system having a plurality of frame elements (101, 102) configured to be combined together to form a stack for forming afunctional member such as in particular a membrane distillation stage, a vapor generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a filter and/or a pervaporation stage, wherein the frame elements (101, 102) each include: an outer frame (39) and an inner frame (43), the inner frame (43) encasing a central inner region (40) and being surrounded by the outer frame (39), passage openings (13 to 16) and vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) arranged between the outer frame (39) and the inner frame (43), wherein at least one of the vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) comprises at least one internal strut member (48) extending between the inner frame (43) and the outer frame (39).

The invention relates to a modular flow system having a plurality of frame elements (101, 102) configured to be combined together to form a stack for forming a functional member such as in particular a membrane distillation stage, a vapor generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a filter and/or a pervaporation stage, wherein the frame elements (101, 102) each include: an outer frame (39) and an inner frame (43), the inner frame (43) encasing a central inner region (40) and being surrounded by the outer frame (39), at least one first passage opening (13 to 16) arranged between the outer frame (39) and the inner frame (43) and separated from the central inner region (40) by a frame wall on a first and/or opposite second frame side of the inner frame (43), and at least one liquid passage (45, 46) provided by the frame wall and configured to distribute a liquid from the first passage opening (13) to a feeding area (40′) and/or to collect a liquid from the feeding area (40) to the first passage opening (16a, 16b)), the feeding area (40′) being aligned with the central inner region (40) but being outside and/or in front of the inner frame (43), wherein the liquid passage extends asymmetrically and/or discontinuously along the first and/or second frame side.

The present invention provides for a method for separating starch from processing solutions containing starch containing plants or roots such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, wheat, corn, tapioca, yams, cassaya, sago, rice, pea, broad bean, horse bean, sorghum, konjac, rye, buckwheat and barley to provide commercially acceptable starch while reducing disposal of solid or liquid waste matter into landfills or water treatment facilities.

A flow plate for a humidifier, and to such a humidifier having a plurality of flow plates and water exchange membranes are described. The flow plate has a flow field with a plurality of free-standing support elements, wherein the support elements extend, at least in sections, perpendicular to the flat surface plane of the flow plate. Gas to be humidified or gas giving off moisture flows on the flow field. In the humidifier, the flow plates are arranged in a stack, wherein a membrane composite having at least one water exchange membrane is arranged between each pair of adjacent flow plates in the stack. The support elements improve the performance of the humidifier and therefore the number of flow plates can be reduced, making a lower-weight and space-saving design possible.

The present disclosure provides instruments, modules and methods for improved detection of edited cells following nucleic acid-guided nuclease genome editing. The disclosure provides improved automated instruments that perform methods—including high throughput methods—for screening cells that have been subjected to editing and identifying cells that have been properly edited.

An immersed membranes uses aeration (air bubbles rising past the membranes) as a means to scour the membrane surface and keep it clean from solids, or foulants, allowing for continuous and effective operation. In a module of flat sheet membranes, fine bubble aeration is used to create and maintain space between the membrane sheets. The bubbles inhibit the sheets from touching and clogging together, thus reducing their surface area and their productivity. The aeration may be used for scouring, to supply oxygen to biomass and as a spacer to maintain the working surface area of immersed flat sheet membranes. The face-to-face spacing between the membrane sheets may be 4 mm or less. The bubbles may be less than twice the face-to-face spacing between the membrane sheets.

A device for exchange of water molecule and temperature between two fluids. The device comprises thin molecular sieve membrane sheets that allow water molecules to permeate through while blocking cross-over of the exchanging fluids. The device provides two sets of flow channels having a hydraulic diameter ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 mm for respective process and sweep fluid flows. The two sets of the channels are separated by a membrane sheet having a thickness less than 200 μm. The thin molecule sieve membrane may be prepared by forming an ultra-thin zeolite membrane layer on a porous metal-based support sheet which provides very high water permeance so that the exchange can be conducted in a compact membrane module at high throughput. The device can be used to remove water from a process stream of higher water content by use of a sweep fluid of lower water content or higher water affinity. For example, the device can be used to condition outdoor fresh air close to the temperature and humidity of indoor air by conducting humidity and heat exchange between the fresh air flow drawn from outdoors and waste air discharged indoors.