The purpose of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable membrane module for removing hazardous components without the risk of a feed-source fluid and a concentrated fluid intermixing inside a hollow tube. The spiral wound separation membrane module is characterized in that: a spiral wound separation membrane element accommodated in a cylindrical container, the spiral wound separation membrane element having a structure in which a laminated body having a separation membrane, a feed-side spacer and a permeation-side spacer is wound around a porous hollow tube in a spiral shape, the feed-side spacer is positioned on a feed side of the separation membrane, the permeation-side spacer is positioned on a permeation side of the separation membrane, and a feed-side flow path and a permeation-side flow path are sealed so as not to communicate directly with each other.

A seawater desalination system for desalinating seawater by removing salinity from the seawater and an energy recovery apparatus which is preferably used in the seawater desalination system. The energy recovery apparatus includes a cylindrical chamber being installed such that a longitudinal direction of the chamber is placed in a vertical direction, a concentrated seawater port for supplying and discharging the concentrated seawater, a seawater port for supplying and discharging the seawater, a flow resistor provided at a concentrated seawater port side in the chamber, and a flow resistor provided at a seawater port side in the chamber. Each of the flow resistor provided at the concentrated seawater port side and the seawater port side comprises at least one perforated circular plate, and each perforated circular plate has a plurality of holes formed in an outer circumferential area outside a circle having a predetermined diameter on the perforated circular plate.

A seawater desalination system for desalinating seawater by removing salinity from the seawater and an energy recovery apparatus which is preferably used in the seawater desalination system. The energy recovery apparatus includes a cylindrical chamber being installed such that a longitudinal direction of the chamber is placed in a vertical direction, a concentrated seawater port for supplying and discharging the concentrated seawater, a seawater port for supplying and discharging the seawater, a flow resistor provided at a concentrated seawater port side in the chamber, and a flow resistor provided at a seawater port side in the chamber. Each of the flow resistor provided at the concentrated seawater port side and the seawater port side comprises at least one perforated circular plate, and each perforated circular plate has a plurality of holes formed in an outer circumferential area outside a circle having a predetermined diameter on the perforated circular plate.

A membrane element includes a central pipe having, in its outer periphery, holes; a membrane wound body in which a membrane member is wound on the central pipe; end members arranged, respectively, at both ends of the membrane wound body; and an exterior member fitted to at least an outer periphery of the membrane wound body. In this element, the exterior member includes a fiber reinforced resin having a reinforcing fiber wound on the outer periphery of the membrane wound body; the end members each includes flexible portions extended from a main body toward the membrane wound body; and the reinforcing fiber is wound also onto an outer periphery of the flexible portions in a state that the flexible portions are deformed toward an outer peripheral surface of the membrane wound body.

A membrane element includes a central pipe having, in its outer periphery, holes; a membrane wound body in which a membrane member is wound on the central pipe; end members arranged, respectively, at both ends of the membrane wound body; and an exterior member fitted to at least an outer periphery of the membrane wound body. In this element, the exterior member includes a fiber reinforced resin having a reinforcing fiber wound on the outer periphery of the membrane wound body; the end members each includes flexible portions extended from a main body toward the membrane wound body; and the reinforcing fiber is wound also onto an outer periphery of the flexible portions in a state that the flexible portions are deformed toward an outer peripheral surface of the membrane wound body.

A bioreactor assembly for treating feed water including: i) a pressure vessel comprising an inner peripheral surface defining an inner chamber having a cross-sectional area, and a first and second port adapted to provide fluid access with the inner chamber, ii) a plurality of bioreactors located within the inner chamber, wherein each bioreactor includes an outer periphery and flow channels extending along bio-growth surfaces from an inlet region to an outlet region, and iii) a fluid flow pathway adapted for connection to a source of feed water and extending from the first port of the pressure vessel, along a parallel flow pattern to each bioreactor, into the flow channels of each bioreactor, and out the second port of the pressure vessel.

A bioreactor assembly for treating feed water including: i) a pressure vessel comprising an inner peripheral surface defining an inner chamber having a cross-sectional area, and a first and second port adapted to provide fluid access with the inner chamber, ii) a plurality of bioreactors located within the inner chamber, wherein each bioreactor includes an outer periphery and flow channels extending along bio-growth surfaces from an inlet region to an outlet region, and iii) a fluid flow pathway adapted for connection to a source of feed water and extending from the first port of the pressure vessel, along a parallel flow pattern to each bioreactor, into the flow channels of each bioreactor, and out the second port of the pressure vessel.

A spacer for a membrane module, the spacer comprising: a plurality of first filaments defining a plurality of fluid flow channels, in use the plurality of fluid flow channels being adjacent a membrane of the membrane module; and a plurality of second filaments provided on the plurality of first filaments and extending into the fluid flow channels, the second filaments moveable relative to the first filaments in response to an external stimulus during flow of fluid in the fluid flow channels.

A spacer for a membrane module, the spacer comprising: a plurality of first filaments defining a plurality of fluid flow channels, in use the plurality of fluid flow channels being adjacent a membrane of the membrane module; and a plurality of second filaments provided on the plurality of first filaments and extending into the fluid flow channels, the second filaments moveable relative to the first filaments in response to an external stimulus during flow of fluid in the fluid flow channels.

A reverse osmosis membrane filtering device includes: a water-collecting member including at least one water collecting pipe, and having a plurality of sections each of which has a plurality of water collecting apertures; at least one filter assembly disposed around the plurality of sections, the at least one filter assembly including a filter member including a reverse osmosis membrane; at least one insertion tube disposed inside the water-collecting member and defining a plurality of permeate-water channels corresponding to the plurality of sections inside the water-collecting member in cooperation with at least one seal member; and a pressure adjusting device configured to increase a pressure of at least one of the plurality of permeate-water channels to a pressure higher than that of another one of the plurality of permeate-water channels.