A method of manufacturing a separator element for obtaining molecular and/or particulate separation by tangential flow of a fluid medium for treatment into a filtrate and a retentate, the element having a structure (2) of at least two porous rigid columns (3) made of the same material, positioned side by side to define, outside their outside walls, a volume (4) for recovering the filtrate, each column (3) presenting, internally, at least one open structure (5) for passing a flow of the fluid medium, opening out in one of the ends of the porous column for inlet of the fluid medium for treatment, and in the other end for outlet of the retentate. The element is a single-piece rigid structure (2) made as a single piece that is uniform and continuous throughout, without any bonds or exogenous additions.

To enable efficient substance measurement, this invention is characterized in that the invention comprises a first hollow fiber (131) for allowing a first processing liquid to flow from a first introduction port (121a) to a first exit port (121b) and allowing the membrane permeation of gas in the processing liquid, a second hollow fiber (132) for allowing a second processing liquid to flow from a second introduction port (122a) to a second exit port (122b) and allowing the membrane permeation of gas in the processing liquid, a container (110) for accommodating the first hollow fiber (131) and second hollow fiber (132) therein, and a vacuum pump (201) connected to the space (S) inside the container (110), and inside the container (110), the hollow fibers (130) consisting of the first hollow fiber (131) and second hollow fiber (132) are in contact with each other across a prescribed length.

A cord for supporting a biofilm has a plurality of yarns. At least one of the yarns comprises a plurality of hollow fiber gas transfer membranes. At least one of the yarns extends along the length of the cord generally in the shape of a spiral. Optionally, one or more of the yarns may comprise one or more reinforcing filaments. In some examples, a reinforcing yarn is wrapped around a core. A module may be made by potting a plurality of the cords in at least one header. A reactor may be made and operated by placing the module in a tank fed with water to be treated and supplying a gas to the module. In use, a biofilm covers the cords to form a membrane biofilm assembly.

In some examples, a membrane module includes a fiber bundle. The fiber bundle includes a tubular first region and a tubular second region positioned around the tubular first region. One of the first or second regions includes hollow fibers oriented along an axis of the fiber bundle. Another of the first or second regions includes hollow fibers that are not colinear in a radial direction from the axis of the fiber bundle. A void fraction of the second region is different from a void fraction of the first region.

A cord for supporting a biofilm has a plurality of yarns. At least one of the yarns comprises a plurality of hollow fiber gas transfer membranes. At least one of the yarns extends along the length of the cord generally in the shape of a spiral. Optionally, one or more of the yarns may comprise one or more reinforcing filaments. In some examples, a reinforcing yarn is wrapped around a core. A module may be made by potting a plurality of the cords in at least one header. A reactor may be made and operated by placing the module in a tank fed with water to be treated and supplying a gas to the module. In use, a biofilm covers the cords to form a membrane biofilm assembly.

In some examples, a membrane module includes a fiber bundle. The fiber bundle includes a tubular first region and a tubular second region positioned around the tubular first region. One of the first or second regions includes hollow fibers oriented along an axis of the fiber bundle. Another of the first or second regions includes hollow fibers that are not colinear in a radial direction from the axis of the fiber bundle. A void fraction of the second region is different from a void fraction of the first region.

The present invention concerns a filtration membrane bundle (30) comprising a plurality of elongated filtration fibers (40) arranged in a spiraled coil (34); and one or more filaments (50) woven around the plurality of elongated filtration fibers (40) binding one or more adjacent elongated filtration fibers (40) at a predetermined and homogeneous spacing (44,48) from one another wherein each elongated filtration fiber (40) is bound to respective adjacent elongated filtration fibers (40) in a co-planar configuration, and wherein the co-planar configuration of filtration fibers (40) are rolled into a coil (34). Furthermore, a filtration membrane assembly comprising the filtration membrane bundle (30) and a housing and method of providing the filtration membrane bundle (30) are disclosed.

An extracorporeal blood treatment device comprises a single housing defining an internal blood flow cavity. The housing accommodates an oxygenator, a heat exchanger and an additional mass transfer assembly, each having an array of fluid conduits. The arrays are co-located within the internal blood flow cavity such that blood flowing through the internal blood flow cavity flows substantially homogeneously around all the conduits. The arrays are arranged relative to one another within the internal blood flow cavity such that they together define a continuous blood flow path through the internal blood flow cavity along which blood can flow. The continuous blood flow path has a blood entry surface at one end and a blood exit surface at the opposite end. The overall blood flow direction from the blood entry surface along the blood flow path to the blood exit surface follows substantially a straight line.

A cord for supporting a biofilm has a plurality of yarns. At least one of the yarns comprises a plurality of hollow fiber gas transfer membranes. At least one of the yarns extends along the length of the cord generally in the shape of a spiral. Optionally, one or more of the yarns may comprise one or more reinforcing filaments. In some examples, a reinforcing yarn is wrapped around a core. A module may be made by potting a plurality of the cords in at least one header. A reactor may be made and operated by placing the module in a tank fed with water to be treated and supplying a gas to the module. In use, a biofilm covers the cords to form a membrane biofilm assembly.

The present invention concerns a filtration membrane bundle (30) comprising a plurality of elongated filtration fibers (40) arranged in a spiraled coil (34); and one or more filaments (50) woven around the plurality of elongated filtration fibers (40) binding one or more adjacent elongated filtration fibers (40) at a predetermined and homogeneous spacing (44,48) from one another wherein each elongated filtration fiber (40) is bound to respective adjacent elongated filtration fibers (40) in a co-planar configuration, and wherein the co-planar configuration of filtration fibers (40) are rolled into a coil (34). Furthermore, a filtration membrane assembly comprising the filtration membrane bundle (30) and a housing and method of providing the filtration membrane bundle (30) are disclosed.