Pleated, tapered, and spiral-wound cross-flow filter elements are described. The filter elements have pleated and tapered membrane leaves. The pleated and tapered membrane leaves maintain retentate fluid velocity in high permeate flux applications.

The present invention relates to a separation membrane module including: a pressure vessel; a plurality of separation membrane elements which are provided in the pressure vessel and each includes: a wound membrane body in which a separation membrane, a liquid-to-be-treated channel member and a permeated liquid channel member are spirally wound around a permeated liquid collection tube; and anti-telescoping plates disposed on both ends of the wound membrane body; and a thrust load holding member which holds a thrust load generated when water passes through the separation membrane elements, in which a thrust load adjustment holding member which is capable of adjusting the thrust load by adjusting a total length of the separation membrane elements in the pressure vessel, is provided on at least one end of the thrust load holding member in an axial direction of the separation membrane elements.

Disclosed is a spiral wound membrane element that provides two permeate streams through a permeate carrier sheet. The spiral wound membrane element is sealed such that the only communication with the permeate carrier is through a membrane sleeve. The first permeate stream flows spirally inward and the second permeate stream flows in the opposite direction, spirally outward. The permeate carrier sheet is sealed at two edges so that the permeate streams can only discharge from opposite, unsealed edges of the permeate carrier sheet. The first permeate stream may be collected in a central collection tube and the second permeate stream may be collected in a peripheral region of the membrane element.

A gas separation module comprising: (a) a permeate collection tube; (b) a membrane envelope wound spirally around the tube to provide a wound membrane structure comprising two end faces; and (c) an anti-telescoping device (ATD) secured to the permeate collection tube, the ATD comprising: (i) an inner peripheral part, (ii) an outer peripheral part which surrounds the inner peripheral part, (iii) one or more connection parts which connect the inner peripheral part and the outer peripheral part and which contacts with one of said end faces; (iv) vents which allow gas to flow through the ATD; wherein the ATD satisfies Formula (1): (L CP?L contact)/(L VENT)=R Formula (1) wherein: R is from 1.47 to 1.88; L VENT is the cross sectional area of the vents which allow gas to flow through the ATD; L CP is the total area inside the outer peripheral part; and L contact is the contact area of the connection parts and the end face of the wound membrane envelope. Clamps are also claimed.

An end member (3A) for a spiral separation membrane element includes: an inner annular portion (31); an outer annular portion (32) surrounding the inner annular portion (31) at a distance from the inner annular portion (31); a plurality of connecting portions (33) connecting the inner annular portion (31) and the outer annular portion (32); and a shield plate (34) disposed between at least one pair of the connecting portions (33) and forming an opening (41) between the shield plate (34) and the outer annular portion (32). According to this configuration, a radially outwardly spreading flow is formed by the shield plate (34), and therefore suspended solids in a feed liquid can be effectively directed to the peripheral region.

The present disclosure provides systems, devices, and methods for reducing membrane fouling, scaling, and concentration polarization in order to reduce system energy consumption, reduce operational system maintenance and plant downtime, reduce environmental impact and waste, and/or increase membrane flux and/or recovery.

A membrane separation device includes a separation membrane unit A that has a separation membrane unit component 8, feed stream side lines F1 and F2, and a permeate stream line P, and a unit for feeding a stream-to-be-treated, wherein a stream-to-be-treated sealing material is provided in the perimeter of an anti-telescoping plate of the separation membrane element, wherein the separation membrane elements can be moved within a cylindrical pressure vessel substantially in either direction, wherein the separation membrane unit is configured to feed the stream-to-be-treated through one of the feed stream side lines F1 and F2 and to discharge the concentrate stream through the other of the feed stream side lines, and wherein the separation membrane unit includes a mechanism that can switch the flow between the feed stream side lines.

A MEMS sensor system for monitoring membrane elements in a membrane based water filtration plant having a remote telemetry unit (RTU), a SCADA, and a plurality of MEMS sensors for measuring pressure, flow rate. and conductivity. The water filtration plant has a train with a membrane vessel containing a plurality of membrane elements arranged in series creating interfaces between each membrane element. The MEMS sensors are located at the membrane element interfaces. A method of monitoring membrane elements in a membrane based water filtration plant using a plurality of MEMS sensors for measuring pressure, flow rate. and conductivity placed at the filtration plant membrane element interfaces.

A sea water desalination system and reverse osmosis element for use in a desalination system are provided. The reverse osmosis element includes a body of media material having opposed first and second ends. First and second end cap assemblies are adjacent the first and second ends of the body. A shell of wound composite material encapsulates and retains the body and first and second end cap assemblies together to define an integrated pressure vessel. Methods of assembling are also provided.

A sea water desalination system and reverse osmosis element for use in a desalination system are provided. The reverse osmosis element includes a body of media material having opposed first and second ends. First and second end cap assemblies are adjacent the first and second ends of the body. A shell of wound composite material encapsulates and retains the body and first and second end cap assemblies together to define an integrated pressure vessel. Methods of assembling are also provided.