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 m. 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.

Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure.

A membrane-based assembly and process for cooling and/or de-vaporizing a gas. The assembly and process can provide sensible cooling and/or dehumidification of air, and can be contained within a single, integrated apparatus.

A membrane device and separation process are presented to enable removal of water from water-containing mixtures at high throughput and high energy efficiency. The membrane device is made of thin H.sub.2O-selective molecular sieve membrane sheets with small feed channels and small permeate channels. The thin membrane sheet provides H.sub.2O-molecular specificity and allows H.sub.2O molecule to permeate through while blocking the other molecules. The membrane device provides large membrane area per unit volume and reduces mass transfer and flow resistance. Water is removed from the mixture by flowing the water-containing mixture through the feed channels of the device at a pressure above atmospheric pressure and removing the permeated water vapor from the permeate channels in the device under vacuum.

Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components, and methods of manufacturing those assemblies, devices, and components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include an insulation base having insulating material and at least one passage that extends through the insulating material. In some embodiments, the at least one passage may be in fluid communication with a combustion region.

A separation device includes a membrane separation module (10), an adsorption module (20), and a gas intake module (30). The membrane separation module includes a first housing (110), and a membrane assembly (130) disposed in the first housing. The first housing has a first gas inlet (121), a first gas outlet (122), and a retentate gas outlet (123). The membrane module has a permeate gas outlet, the permeate gas outlet being in communication with the first gas outlet. The adsorption module has a second housing (210) and an adsorbent layer (230) disposed in it. The second housing is disposed on the first housing and has a second gas inlet (221), a second gas outlet (222), and a desorption gas outlet (223). The second gas inlet is in communication with the first gas outlet. The gas intake module has a third gas outlet (321) in communication with the first gas inlet.

An oxygen separation device includes a substrate and an oxygen ion transport membrane supported on the substrate. The substrate has an air inlet end and a retentate outlet end. An intake air passageway extends through the substrate from the air inlet end to the retentate outlet end. The oxygen ion transport membrane is between the substrate and the intake air passageway and is adapted to separate oxygen atoms from the air in the intake air passageway and to transport the oxygen atoms to the substrate. The oxygen separation device collects the oxygen from the substrate for supply to an internal combustion engine for use as the gas of the gas-fuel mixture.

Disclosed are various turbulent, corrosion-resistant heat exchangers used in desiccant air conditioning systems.

Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components, and methods of manufacturing those assemblies, devices, and components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include an insulation base having insulating material and at least one passage that extends through the insulating material. In some embodiments, the at least one passage may be in fluid communication with a combustion region.

An oxygen separation device includes a substrate and an oxygen ion transport membrane supported on the substrate. The substrate has an air inlet end and a retentate outlet end. An intake air passageway extends through the substrate from the air inlet end to the retentate outlet end. The oxygen ion transport membrane is between the substrate and the intake air passageway and is adapted to separate oxygen atoms from the air in the intake air passageway and to transport the oxygen atoms to the substrate. The oxygen separation device collects the oxygen from the substrate for supply to an internal combustion engine for use as the gas of the gas-fuel mixture.