The filter module case includes a casing, a cap, a first layer, and a second layer. The casing has a cylindrical shape. The cap has a cylindrical shape and defines a passage providing communication between the inside and the outside of the casing and receives an end portion of the casing and is bonded to the casing. The first layer is closer to an end and faces an outer peripheral surface of the casing and the inner wall surface of the cap. The second layer is closer to the center and faces the outer peripheral surface of the casing and the inner wall surface of the cap. The casing and the cap have organic solvent resistance. The first layer is formed of a first adhesive with organic solvent resistance. The second layer is formed of a second adhesive that has an affinity for hard-to-adhere materials and has a higher elasticity.

A fluid circuit includes a plurality of tubing segments and a plurality of operative components. Each tubing segment includes i) a non-conductive polymer portion defining a fluid passageway and ii) one or more interior conductive fluoropolymer stripes extending axially to the ends of each of the respective tubing segments. Each operative component includes a conductive fluoropolymer that extends between a plurality of tubing connector fittings forming a part of the fluid circuit, wherein each of the tubing connector fittings conductively connect the respective conductor of the operative component to the interior conductive fluoropolymer stripes of the tubing segment to provide a path to ground that extends through each operative component and each tubing segment.

The invention is a modular, flexible, thermal, insulating, multilayered enclosure utilizing membrane distillation technology. The enclosure has a heat conducting layer, an insulation layer, and a layer of hydrophobic, polymeric hollow fiber membranes between the insulation layer and conductive layer. The enclosure is wrapped around a heat exhaust to absorb and transfer heat to the hollow fiber membranes to facilitate membrane distillation enabling production of potable water.

Provided is a membrane distillation module 100 comprising a membrane distillation membrane cartridge 10 and a membrane distillation housing 20, wherein: the membrane cartridge 10 comprises a membrane anchoring part 12 in which porous membranes 11 are anchored by anchoring resin; the housing 20 comprises a housing body 30 and a housing lid 40; the membrane distillation module 100 comprises a support part 60 where the outer surface of the membrane anchoring part 12 is supported by the inner surface of the housing 20 with a seal member 50 interposed therebetween; and a value C in the cross section of the support part 60 is at least 30° C. as represented by the following formula, where d.sub.F is the equivalent circular diameter (mm) of the outer circumference of the membrane anchoring part 12, k.sub.F is the linear expansion coefficient (1/° C.) of the anchoring resin, d.sub.E is the equivalent circular diameter (mm) of the inner circumference of the housing 20; and k.sub.E is the linear expansion coefficient (1/° C.) of a portion where the housing 20 contacts the seal member 50.

A submersible reverse osmosis desalination apparatus uses low temperature concentrate or brine from the desalination apparatus to provide a high volume cold liquid stream to an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) heat engine. The OTEC engine also employs a warm liquid stream and uses the cold and warm liquid streams to obtain electrical power from a closed-cycle or open-cycle heat exchange and generator system. Use of the concentrate or brine stream provides a much greater liquid volume and much greater cold thermal energy content than would be obtained by using cold desalinated product water from the desalination apparatus in the OTEC heat engine.

A submersible water desalination apparatus includes an array of generally parallel water separation membrane cartridges each having a water separation membrane, an impermeable cartridge wall surrounding the membrane, and a product water collection tube that collects from inside the cartridges at least partially desalinated product water passing through the membrane, and through which the at least partially desalinated water exits the cartridges and enters a product water collection manifold. The cartridges are mounted in a perforated divider plate. In embodiments, a) the manifold is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the collection tubes, orb) the divider plate is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the cartridge walls or ends, or both a) and b). The adhesive reduces the likelihood of leakage at the manifold or divider plate.

A submersible reverse osmosis desalination apparatus uses low temperature concentrate or brine from the desalination apparatus to provide a high volume cold liquid stream to an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) heat engine. The OTEC engine also employs a warm liquid stream and uses the cold and warm liquid streams to obtain electrical power from a closed-cycle or open-cycle heat exchange and generator system. Use of the concentrate or brine stream provides a much greater liquid volume and much greater cold thermal energy content than would be obtained by using cold desalinated product water from the desalination apparatus in the OTEC heat engine.

A submersible water desalination apparatus includes an array of hot-swappable water separation membrane modules arrayed in an approximately polygonal configuration around a product water collection conduit that represents or is proximate to and generally aligned with a central axis of the array; a plurality of hot-swap product water valves connected to the conduit and detachably connected to generally radially-extending product water collection manifolds in fluid communication with a plurality of water separation membrane cartridges within the modules; the modules having in cross-section generally tapered module sides that converge towards the conduit and assist in underwater docking and attachment of a replacement module to a hot-swap product water valve.

A submersible water desalination apparatus includes a plurality of water separation membrane elements that when supplied with salinated water under pressure at a first depth will produce at least partially desalinated product water and concentrate or brine; a product water collector that receives product water from the membrane elements; and a permeate conduit that transports product water from the collector downwardly to a motorized submersible pump remotely located from the membrane elements and collector at a second depth greater than the first depth. The second depth is sufficiently greater than the first depth so that the height of a standing column of product water in the product water collector and permeate conduit between the membrane elements and the suction side of the pump maintains a net positive suction head that prevents inlet side cavitation during pump startup and operation.

A submersible water desalination apparatus includes an array of generally parallel water separation membrane cartridges each having a water separation membrane, an impermeable cartridge wall surrounding the membrane, and a product water collection tube that collects from inside the cartridges at least partially desalinated product water passing through the membrane, and through which the at least partially desalinated water exits the cartridges and enters a product water collection manifold. The cartridges are mounted in a perforated divider plate. In embodiments, a) the manifold is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the collection tubes, orb) the divider plate is adhesively bonded to a plurality of the cartridge walls or ends, or both a) and b). The adhesive reduces the likelihood of leakage at the manifold or divider plate.