The present invention provides a filter element (500) having a radial permeate discharge path (550). The filter element generally includes a closed membrane structure (510) wrapped about a core (530) in reciprocating clockwise and counterclockwise directions, forming semicircular folds of membrane about the core. The semicircular folds of membrane have opposingly situated apical ends (560) separated by a gap. The interior of the closed membrane structure (510) defines a feed channel and the exterior of the closed membrane structure defines at least one permeate channel (522). A radial permeate discharge path (550) extends through the gap between the apical ends of the semicircular folds of membrane. Systems containing, and methods of using, filter elements including radial permeate discharge paths are also provided.

The invention relates to a method for producing a device for material exchange between two mediums, in which at least one mat of semipermeable hollow fibres (3) is wound onto a winding core (2), which has at least one core opening (2a) in its outer surface for a first in- or out-flowing medium, and the winding core (2) is arranged in an axially extending housing (1) having at least one housing opening (1a) for the first in- or out-flowing medium, and the axial end regions of the housing (1) are sealed by an adhesive (4) arranged around the hollow fibres (3), wherein at least one chamber region (5) surrounding the hollow fibres (3) is formed via the adhesion between the axial end regions (1b, 1c) of the housing (1) and between the winding core (2) and the housing (1), through which chamber region the first medium can flow via the core opening (2a) and the housing opening (1a), wherein the axial distance between the core opening (2a) and the housing opening (1a) is adjusted to a desired value of multiple possible values via the axial shifting of the winding core (2) relative to the hollow fibre winding (3) arranged around the winding core (2) and relative to the housing (1), and the hollow fibres (3) are adhered to the side of the housing (1) near to the housing opening (1a) in a region between the axial end surface of the housing and the housing opening (1a), and the hollow fibres (3) are adhered to the side of the housing (1) near to the core opening (2a) in a region between the axial end surface of the housing and the core opening (2a). The invention also relates to a number of multiple devices for material exchange between two mediums, wherein all devices comprise at least identical housings (1) and winding cores (2) that are identical at least in regions.

A hollow fiber module (1, 1) is made by inserting a bundle of hollow fibers (3) into a housing (2, 2) that has an end closed by a cap (17). A fluid first component (27) that can assume a solid state is introduced into a space adjacent the cap (17) and forms a spacer into which ends of the hollow fibers (6, 7) project. A fluid curable second component (4) is introduced before the first component (27) via a second inflow (28) and is cured to form a sealing layer (9) that embeds the bundle of hollow fibers (3) and seals it with respect to the adjacent housing wall (29, 29). The cap (17) is removed from the module housing (2, 2) along with the first component (27) and ends of the hollow fibers (6) embedded in the first component (27).

Parallel membrane elements are arranged in parallel within a pressure vessel. A sealing body is disposed within the pressure vessel and is compressed against an inner surface of the pressure vessel to provide a leak-right seal in between a feed gas side of the sealing body and a non-permeate side of the sealing body. The sealing body may be slid within the pressure vessel without damaging the sealing body and in all cases without requiring mechanical assistance.

Membrane elements that use multiple membrane leaves may have a limited total active membrane area due to an increased diameter at the ends of the element. Membrane leaves may comprise a permeate carrier positioned between one or more membrane sheets. Adhesive may be used to seal one or more edges of the membrane leaf. The membrane sheets, permeate carrier and the adhesive contribute to the thickness of the edges of the membrane leaf and the diameter at the ends of the element. A reduced thickness of the edges of the permeate carrier may reduce the diameter at the ends of an element. Another permeate carrier sheet may also be used that is distanced from at least one edge of the membrane sheet so the permeate carrier sheet does not contribute towards the increased diameter at the ends of the element.

A spiral wound membrane module adapted for hyperfiltration and including at least one membrane envelope and feed spacer sheet wound about a central permeate tube to form an inlet and outlet scroll face and an outer periphery, wherein the feed spacer sheet includes: i) a feed entrance section extending along the permeate collection tube from the inlet scroll face toward the outlet scroll face, ii) a feed exit section extending along the outer periphery from the outlet scroll face toward the inlet scroll face, and iii) a central feed section located between the feed entrance section and the feed exit section; and wherein the feed entrance section has a median resistance to flow in a direction parallel to the permeate collection tube that is less than 25% of the median resistance to flow of the central feed section in a direction perpendicular to the permeate collection tube.

Provided is a compression bar apparatus for applying pressure to desired areas of a thin film composite (TFC) membrane, such as spiral wound TFC membranes and elements, including membranes and elements used for nanofiltration, reverse osmosis or forward osmosis to purify water, such as tap water, seawater, and brackish water. Application of pressure to a spiral wound element by the apparatus produces a membrane with increased sealant penetration, reduced osmotic blistering, and minimal damage to the active area of the membrane. Also provided are methods of using the apparatus.

A membrane assembly for a humidification device of a fuel cell system may include a membrane. The membrane may be permeable to water and impermeable to air. The membrane may extend in a flat form in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction that is transverse with respect to the longitudinal direction in an extent plane. The membrane may include in a height direction extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction and transversely with respect to the transverse direction a top side and a bottom side averted from the top side. The membrane may include an encircling outer margin in the extent plane. The outer margin may have an upper edge at the top side and a lower edge at the bottom side, between which an encircling face surface extends.

A humidifier for humidifying a first fluid via a second fluid a plurality of membranes and a plurality of spacers. The plurality of membranes may be arranged following one another in a stacking direction. The plurality of spacers may include a plurality of first spacers and a plurality of second spacers arranged alternately between the plurality of membranes in the stacking direction. The plurality of spacers may space the plurality of membranes apart with respect to one another. A first height of the plurality of first spacers extending in the stacking direction may be smaller than a second height of the plurality of second spacers extending in the stacking direction. A ratio of the second height to the first height may be at least 1.2.

Parallel membrane elements are arranged in parallel within a pressure vessel. A sealing body is disposed within the pressure vessel and is compressed against an inner surface of the pressure vessel to provide a leak-right seal in between a feed gas side of the sealing body and a non-permeate side of the sealing body. The sealing body may be slid within the pressure vessel without damaging the sealing body and in all cases without requiring mechanical assistance.