An apparatus for extracorporeal treatment of blood (1) has a supply line (2), a waste line (13) and an ultrafilter (19; 70) inserted in the supply line (2). An air inlet line is connected to the first chamber (21; 72) of the ultrafilter (19; 70) and a pressure sensor (41) configured for detecting pressure in the waste line (13). A controller (50) is configured to carry out, with the hydraulic circuit (100) in by-pass configuration, an integrity test procedure for detecting if the ultrafilter membrane has multiple or single fiber breaks. A method of testing the ultrafilter (19; 70) is also disclosed.

A concentration apparatus that includes a liquid tank storing a liquid containing a filtration object, a tubular member having first and second end portions disposed in the liquid tank and forming a first circulation flow path therebetween, a circulation pump for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid tank to flow from the first end portion to the second end portion, a filtration filter disposed in a sidewall of the tubular member, a bypass pipe having first and second ends thereof connected to sidewalls of the tubular member so as to form a second circulation flow path between the first and second end portions of the tubular member, a switching valve constructed to cause the liquid to flow in one of the first or second circulation flow paths, and a control unit controlling driving of the circulation pump and a switching operation of the switching valve.

A method of desalinating water, including the steps of when electricity costs between a first predetermined price and a second predetermined price, fill water is pumped into a reverse osmosis desalination unit to yield desalinated permeate and saltwater having a first salinity, when electricity costs less than the first predetermined price, fill water is pumped into a reverse osmosis desalination unit to yield desalinated permeate and saltwater having a second salinity, and when electricity costs greater than the second predetermined price, pure water is flowed into a reverse osmosis unit to yield pressurized saltwater which is run through a turbine to generate electricity. The first salinity is lower than the second salinity.

A fuel cell humidifier may completely or substantially completely prevent condensate water from entering a running fuel cell stack. The fuel cell humidifier includes a housing; a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged in the housing; a cap which is coupled to one end of the housing and has an air discharge port for supplying humidified air to the fuel cell stack; and a bypass tube for transferring condensate water generated from the humidified air to an interior space of the housing through which a discharge gas flows, wherein a first end of the bypass tube is disposed inside the air discharge port, and the bypass tube is in fluid communication with the interior space of the housing through a second end of the bypass tube.

An apparatus for an extracorporeal treatment of blood has a supply line, a waste line, and an ultrafilter inserted in the supply line. An air inlet line is connected to a first chamber of the ultrafilter. A pressure sensor is configured for detecting pressure in the waste line or a second chamber of the ultrafilter. A controller is configured to perform an integrity test procedure for detecting when an ultrafilter membrane of the ultrafilter has multiple or single fiber breaks. A method of testing the ultrafilter is also disclosed.

A fluid treatment assembly comprises one or more cross flow fluid treatment units positioned between opposite end pieces. The fluid treatment unit includes a permeable fluid treatment medium having a feed side and a permeate side. The fluid treatment assembly further comprises a feed inlet and feed passage, a permeate outlet and a permeate passage, and a retentate outlet and a retentate passage. The feed passage directs feed fluid from the feed inlet to the permeable medium and tangentially along the feed side of the permeable medium. The permeate passage directs permeate from the permeate side of the permeable medium to the permeate outlet. The retentate passage directs retentate from the feed side of the permeable medium to the retentate outlet. A flow restrictor is positioned in the retentate passage.

Electrochemical purification apparatuses for treating water and methods of assembling the devices are provided. The apparatuses may be cross-flow electrochemical devices. The devices may be assembled and sealed through masking and application of a potting material. The devices may comprise various structures configured to improve the current efficiency of the device, reduce leakage, and improve the distribution of potting material to the assembly.

A turbocharger includes a turbocharger housing having an impeller housing comprising a circular cross-section. A main nozzle is disposed within the turbocharger housing communicating a first portion of a fluid stream to a first volute. A first auxiliary channel and a first auxiliary nozzle communicating a second portion of the fluid stream to the first volute. The first auxiliary nozzle is downstream of the main nozzle. A second auxiliary channel and a second auxiliary nozzle communicate a third portion of the fluid stream to the first volute. The second auxiliary nozzle is downstream of the first auxiliary nozzle. A valve assembly is selectively coupling the first auxiliary channel to the first auxiliary nozzle and the second auxiliary channel to the second auxiliary nozzle.

An apparatus for producing ultrapure water: first ultrafiltration membrane that is connected to point of use and that supplies ultrapure water to point of use; first concentrated water return line that returns concentrated water of first ultrafiltration membrane to an upstream side of first ultrafiltration membrane; pressure gauge that measures pressure at an outlet of first ultrafiltration membrane; and means for adjusting flow rate of the concentrated water (first valve). Means for adjusting the flow rate of the concentrated water can be operated such that when the flow rate of the concentrated water is changed, a change in the pressure at the outlet of first ultrafiltration membrane that is measured by pressure gauge is kept within a predetermined range.

A hollow fiber membrane module includes one pressure vessel, and at least one hollow fiber membrane element loaded in the pressure vessel. Each of the element includes a plurality of hollow fiber membranes each having openings at both ends, a bypass tube, and a supply port and a discharge port provided on one end side in a longitudinal direction. The supply port is in communication with inflow-side openings of hollow fiber membranes. The bypass tube is provided in the longitudinal direction of the element, has an inflow port at an end portion on a side of outflow-side openings of the hollow fiber membranes, and has an outflow port at an end portion on a side of the inflow-side openings of the hollow fiber membranes. The outflow-side openings of hollow fiber membranes are in communication with the inflow port, and the outflow port is in communication with the discharge port.