The invention relates to the design of an enclosure for a membrane aeration module, which incorporates a reversible, low-pressure, air-lift pump to encourage a vertical water flow through and between the membranes in the module. These enclosed membrane modules are suitable for use in membrane aerated biofilm reactors, which are used to treat water or wastewater.

Provided herein is a membrane filter device comprising a cell top cover (A, Y) and a cell bottom cover (B, Z) covering the device, a flexible tube (35, E, F) whereas at the end of the tube, a nozzle jet (22) is also secured via conical reducer to produce upper Reynold's number and for distributing the feed fluid, within the hex hollow chamber (C, X) for storing and receiving feed fluid, a reducer chamber (C, R1, R2) for storing and receiving permeate filtrated fluid, a connector (32, 53, 56) connecting both feed chambers (A, Y, Z) and reducer chambers (A, Y, Z), a membrane assembly (M/F) comprising a layer of membrane (130) sandwiched by a pair of seal rings (P1, OR, P2) and a layer of support net (MS) for securing said membrane (M/F). Most of the joints are connected using threaded joint and flow pressure, therefore no external clamp, nuts or bolts is needed. The flexible tube and the cylindrical shape ensure uniform flow in chambers. The apparatus is therefore a user-friendly and steadfast membrane filter device.

The invention relates to filtration system (20), comprising a tank (40) filled at least partly with water to be filtered, and at least one filtration module (30), the at least one filtration module (30) comprising at least one filter membrane (10) for filtering the water comprising a substrate (12) which is penetrated by at least one capillary (16), and at least one filtrate pipe (32) for drawing filtered water out of the tank (40), whereat the at least one filtration module (30) is arranged in the tank (40) such that the at least one filter membrane (10) is submerged at least partly in the water to be filtered. The at least one filtration module (30) is designed and arranged such that water to be filtered flows into the at least one capillary (16) and from the at least one capillary (16) through the substrate (12) into the filtrate pipe (32). The invention also relates to a method for filtering water by means of a filtration system (20) according to the invention, whereat the water to be filtered is drawn into the at least one capillary (16) and from the at least one capillary (16) through the substrate (12) into the filtrate pipe (32) and from the filtrate pipe (32) out of the tank (40).

A device for filtering and separating pressurized liquid mixtures by means of a membrane includes a substantially pressure-tight container in which the membranes are accommodated in a pressure-tight manner. The container has at least one intake for the mixture, as well as at least one outlet for the permeate separated from the mixture by means of the membranes, and at least one outlet for the retentate, also referred to as a concentrate. The pressure-tight container is made of plastic.

A reverse osmosis filtering module includes: a purified water discharge pipe in which a purified water discharge path is formed, and which has a communication hole that is formed on an outer periphery thereof and communicates with the purified water discharge path; a reverse osmosis filtering part including a reverse osmosis filtering member in which a purified water flow space is formed, and which is wound around the purified water discharge pipe such that the purified water flow space communicates with the communication hole; a first flow channel formation cap provided at one side and having an inlet hole; and a second flow channel formation cap provided at the other side of the reverse osmosis filtering part and having an outlet hole.

[Object] To prevent deterioration of dehumidification efficiency by suppressing uneven distribution of hollow fiber membranes in an outer casing.

[Solution] A dehumidifying element 1 includes a dehumidification space 7 that are formed between a pair of potting material portions 5 and 6 and that accommodates hollow fiber membranes 3 through which highly humid dehumidification-target air is circulated. The dehumidifying element 1 also includes an air supply hole 35 for supplying purging air having a humidity lower than the dehumidification-target air to the dehumidification space 7 and an air discharge hole 36 for discharging the purging air supplied to the dehumidification space 7. In the dehumidification space 7, a guide member 47 is disposed so as to form a plurality of regions in a cylindrical casing 2 as viewed in the axis-L direction, and the hollow fiber membranes 3 are accommodated in the dehumidification space 7 so as to be distributed into the plurality of regions.

A process and system for cleaning semipermeable membranes is described that is particularly well suited for cleaning membranes contained in a water purification system, such as a reverse osmosis process. In order to clean the filter membranes, the membranes are placed in a cleaning chamber capable of allowing a reduction in pressure. In one embodiment, for instance, the membranes are contained in a filter housing and the filter housing is converted into a cleaning chamber by sealing off at least one end. The membranes are then submerged in a cleaning fluid and the pressure within the cleaning chamber is reduced causing the cleaning fluid to form bubbles. The process and system of the present disclosure is well suited to cleaning filter membranes, particularly ceramic membranes, in-line without having to remove the membranes from the water purification system.

A water purification system (100) is provided and includes: a composite filter cartridge assembly (1), a booster pump (4), a waste-water solenoid valve (7) and a water storage device. The composite filter cartridge assembly (1) includes a filter casing (11) and a composite filter cartridge (12). A pretreated-water outlet (114) of the filter casing (11) is connected with a water-output end of a pretreating filter cartridge (121) of the composite filter cartridge (12) and with the booster pump (4). A pretreated-water inlet (115) of the filter casing (11) is connected with a water-input end of a fine filter cartridge (122) of the composite filter cartridge (12) and with the booster pump (4). A purified-water port (116) of the filter casing (11) is connected with a water-output end of the fine filter cartridge (122), a water-input end of a mouthfeel-improving filter cartridge (123) of the composite filter cartridge (12) and the water storage device.

A ceramic membrane filtration assembly includes a housing and a membrane assembly. The membrane assembly includes at least one membrane with channels therein. A first inner end cap device is disposed within the housing and is coupled with the membrane assembly. The housing has a bypass near an outer perimeter of the first inner end cap device, the first inner end cap device has an inner port, the inner port fluidly coupled with the channels of the membrane, where the bypass includes a space between the housing and the first inner end cap device. A first outer end cap device is coupled with the first inner end cap device; the first outer end cap device has a first port and a second port, where the first port is fluidly separate from the second port, and the first port is fluidly coupled with the inner port.

A movable seal for interfacing between a first surface and a second surface includes a floating portion attached to a non-floating portion by a flexible coupling portion, wherein the non-floating portion is coupled to the first surface by nesting in a groove on the first surface, and wherein the non-floating portion forms a seal between the first and second surfaces when the first surface moves relative to the second surface in a first direction, and wherein the non-floating portion does not form a seal between the first and second surfaces when the first surface moves relative to the second surface in a second opposite direction.