Membrane modules for hydrogen separation and fuel processors and fuel cell systems including the same are disclosed herein. The membrane modules include a plurality of membrane packs. Each membrane pack includes a first hydrogen-selective membrane, a second hydrogen-selective membrane, and a fluid-permeable support structure positioned between the first hydrogen-selective membrane and the second hydrogen-selective membrane. In some embodiments, the membrane modules also include a permeate-side frame member and a mixed gas-side frame member, and a thickness of the permeate-side frame member may be less than a thickness of the mixed gas-side frame member. In some embodiments, the support structure includes a screen structure that includes two fine mesh screens. The two fine mesh screens may include a plain weave fine mesh screen and/or a Dutch weave fine mesh screen. The fine mesh screens may be selected to provide at most 100 micrometers of undulation in the hydrogen-selective membranes.

A filtration cassette including a multilaminate array of sheets including filter sheets alternating with permeate sheet members and retentate sheet members, and a cross-flow filter device comprising a multiplicity of stacked filtration cassettes of such type. The improvements associated with the filtration cassettes described herein include, but are not limited to, at least one of: reinforced inlet(s) providing for longevity and improved cleanability of the cassettes; spacer permeate screens to limit throughput restriction; stainless steel or otherwise stiffened permeate sheets to prevent movement and increase flux; and stainless steel permeate sheets that can be used with ultrasonic transmission to minimize fouling of the filter sheets and extend cleaning cycles. Advantageously, the filtration cassettes are more resistant to higher temperatures than the filtration cassettes of the prior art.

A flow plate for a humidifier, having flow fields on both mutually opposite flat sides of the flow plate is described. The flow plate proposed here has a multiplicity of through-openings, wherein the through-openings are designed such that a perpendicular projection of the through openings onto a plane oriented parallel to the plane of the flat surface of the flow plate has a non-vanishing area, so that gas passing through the through-openings effects, at least in part, mixing of a gas guided in the flow fields perpendicular to the plane of the flat surface of the flow plate. The through-openings improve the power of the humidifier, thus permitting a lower number of flow plates and therefore a more lightweight and more compact design.

The invention relates to a filter device (10) serving to filter a liquid, in particular for treating water. The filter device comprises: at least two plate-shaped filter elements (12) and at least one holding element (20) for filter elements (12). According to the invention, the holding element (20) comprises a holding frame (22), a grout material (26), and an end unit (24), which is separate from the holding frame (22), wherein the grout material (26) is arranged between the filter elements (12) and the holding frame (22), such that the grout material seals the filter elements (12) against the holding frame (22), that the end unit (24) is fastened on the holding frame (22) in a liquid-tight manner, and that the holding frame (22) and the end unit (24) delimit a liquid collection chamber (40).

A membrane humidifier has multiple stacking units mounted one on top of the other, where an individual stacking unit includes a flow plate and diffusion unit, where a circumference of the diffusion unit is formed by two oppositely situated first edge sides and two oppositely situated second edge sides. The diffusion unit includes: a top layer on a top side of the diffusion unit, a bottom layer on a bottom side of the diffusion unit, a moisture-permeable membrane, two oppositely situated upper receiving elements at the two first edge sides, on the top side of the diffusion unit, and two oppositely situated lower receiving elements at the two second edge sides, on the bottom side of the diffusion unit, where the flow plate of the stacking unit is inserted into the two lower receiving elements, and where the next stacking unit is inserted into the two upper receiving elements.

The invention generally relates to osmotically driven membrane systems and processes and more particularly to systems and processes for handling feed streams without pretreatment and increased brine concentration for zero liquid discharge, including forward osmosis separation (FO), direct osmotic concentration (DOC), pressure-assisted forward osmosis (PAFO), and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO). The system includes: a plurality of forward osmosis units, each having a semi-permeable membrane assembly and a tank; and a separation system in fluid communication with the plurality of forward osmosis units and configured to separate the dilute draw solution into the concentrated draw solution and a solvent system.

A flow plate for a humidifier, and to such a humidifier having a plurality of flow plates and water exchange membranes are described. The flow plate has a flow field with a plurality of free-standing support elements, wherein the support elements extend, at least in sections, perpendicular to the flat surface plane of the flow plate. Gas to be humidified or gas giving off moisture flows on the flow field. In the humidifier, the flow plates are arranged in a stack, wherein a membrane composite having at least one water exchange membrane is arranged between each pair of adjacent flow plates in the stack. The support elements improve the performance of the humidifier and therefore the number of flow plates can be reduced, making a lower-weight and space-saving design possible.

Filter elements for perfusion systems and methods are provided. A filter element sheet includes a microporous membrane having a mean pore size of at least about 0.65 ?m and a feed spacer comprising woven fibers and having an open area of at least about 35%. The filter element sheet can be arranged within a filter element, for example, in a spiral-wound format or in a cassette format. A perfusion system includes at least one filter element and a pump configured to control flow of a liquid feed through the at least one filter element.

Provided is a filter module for a gravity-type water purifier. The filter module for a gravity-type water purifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of filter members which are plate shaped, and which are fixed to each other via one or more fastening bars while arranged spaced apart from each other in parallel having gaps therebetween; and a common water collecting member coupled to the respective water collecting holes formed in the filter members, and in which filtered water produced from the filter members is collected.

Fluid treatment assemblies comprising a plurality of adjustable tensioning rod assemblies comprising tensioning rods having a tensioning nut and a locking nut threadably attached to the tensioning rods, and methods of adjusting the tension on the assemblies, are provided.