The present invention relates to a crossflow membrane module configured to separate a feed fluid into a permeate fluid and a residue fluid across one or more membrane sheet(s). The crossflow module comprises a second end offset from a first end along the first direction where an inlet is provided at the first end and an outlet is provided at the second end. The one or more membrane sheet(s) each have a first portion and a second portion. A conduit is adjacent to the first side of each membrane sheet and is configured to receive and output the permeate fluid separated from the feed fluid. The second portion of the membrane sheet has a greater permeance for a major component than the first portion such that the second part of the permeate fluid, which is generated by separation across the second portion of the membrane sheet, has a higher concentration of the major component than the first part of the permeate fluid, which is generated by separation across the first portion. The second portion is spaced apart from the first side of the membrane sheet along the second direction thereby causing the second part of the permeate gas to flow towards the first side of the membrane sheet such that the second part of the permeate gas mixes with the first part of the permeate gas thereby reducing the concentration of the minor component in the first part of the permeate gas.

A novel embodiment of a Free Flow Filtration Unit ensuring unimpeded flow of media to be filtered and unimpeded flow of permeated media in a leakage proof fully fused rigid unit. A Filtration Unit fused into a singular element, formed by a fused stack of internally channeled flat filter plates (1) each plate formed by fusing of two molded flat half filter plates (2, 3), the filter effect formed by perforation slits or holes (10) in the surface of the plates, said perforations connecting to channels (9) in the plates for free flow of permeate (filtered media) leading to one or more exit (4) perpendicular to the plate, the filter plate exits forming exit channels for permeate from the Filtration Unit as the filter plates (1) are fused into a stack at the exit (4) and at bonding points (8) securing that the filter plates are spaced and rigidly fixed at specific distance in the stack, offering slit like gaps at least at 2 sides for free access and exit flow of media to be filtered. The filter area surface (6) can be covered by fusing a fine filter (7), typically an organic flat sheet membrane, to the filter area surface, whereby very fine micro or ultra-filtration or even molecular filtration can be achieved.

A permeate carrier to be described in detail below has side edges, alternatively called borders, that are thinner than a central part of the permeate carrier. Adhesive is applied to the side edges to form a seal when a membrane leaf is formed around the permeate carrier. After the membrane leaf is wound around a central tube, the side edges extend in a spiral around the central tube. The transition between the side edges and the central part of the permeate carrier helps prevent adhesive from flowing into the central part of the permeate carrier. The reduced thickness of the side edges also reduces an increase in diameter at the ends of an element that might otherwise be caused by the adhesive.

Elastic microfiltration membranes are provided. These membranes may be used in a membrane bioreactor. Due to the elastic nature of the membranes, removal of fouling materials is improved, thereby increasing the efficiency and longevity of the membranes. Methods for forming such membranes and uses of the membranes are also provided, including their use in membrane bioreactors.

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.

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 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.

A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure against a cavity into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate, if not formed with pre-coated substrate material, is coated with a dope and quenched to form a filtering membrane. A plurality of membranes may be placed side by side to form a bundle with permeating ends of the membrane, which are open to the one or more interior channels, separated by gaps or spacers. The bundle is connected to a header to produce a module. The module can be assembled into a cassette.

The current invention relates to a filtration membrane envelope (3) comprising a 3D spacer fabric (7) having an upper and lower surface (9, 10) tied together and spaced apart by monofilament threads (11), said 3D spacer fabric is interposed between two membrane layers, and forming a permeate channel (12), wherein said membrane layers are cast respectively on said upper and lower fabric surface of said 3D spacer fabric and wherein said upper and lower fabric surfaces are at least partially embedded in said membrane layers, thereby forming an upper and lower anchorage section (13, 14), characterized in that said anchorage section have a minimal thickness of 100 micron.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a spiral-type separation membrane element having superior oxidant resistance relative to the prior art, and a salt-blocking rate that tends not to decrease. The spiral-type separation membrane element is characterized in including: a supply-side flow-path material; a composite semipermeable membrane in which a skin layer is formed on the surface of a porous support, the skin layer containing a polyamide resin obtained by interfacial polymerization of a polyfunctional amine component and a polyfunctional acid halogen component; and a permeation-side flow-path material, wherein the polyfunctional amine component contains N,N-dimethyl-meta-phenylenediamine and the permeation-side flow-path material has a porosity of 40 to 75%.