A method for manufacturing a zeolite membrane structure comprises an immersion step for immersing a porous substrate in a synthetic sol, and a synthesis step for hydrothermally synthesizing a zeolite membrane on a surface of the porous substrate that has been immersed in the synthesis so. When the foamability of the synthetic sol is measured by a Ross-Miles method under a condition of 25 degrees C., the foam height after elapse of 5 minutes from completion of down flow is less than or equal to 5 mm.

A ceramic filter membrane module enables a fluid to be filtered, such as raw water, with higher efficiency using multiple ceramic filters in a housing. As the diameter of a through-hole located at the center is considerably larger than the diameter of the surrounding flow path, water pressure pushing the raw water is applied from the through-hole at the center toward the outside of a filter body, such that the raw water passes through the filter body smoothly, thereby improving the purification efficiency and uniformly setting the overall flow direction of the raw water. As packing members are installed and fixed between the housing and the ceramic filters, sealing of the incoming raw water and the filtered water becomes more effective, such that the risk of leakage is reduced. As a plurality of ceramic filters are housed in a single housing, economic benefit can be achieved.

A fluid separation apparatus comprising a fluid separation membrane is provided. The fluid separation apparatus comprises a fluid separation membrane extending in one direction and having a cross-section with a closed curve shape, wherein the fluid separation membrane has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and an outer diameter of 60 mm to 360 mm when the cross-section is adjusted to be circular.

Reactor/separator elements for performing the generation and/or separation of hydrogen gas with improved efficiency have a central core and a separation layer that, in combination, define at least one spiral gas flow channel extending from one end of the central core to the opposite end of the central core. In use, the reactor/separator element may be placed in a housing which constrains gas on the outside of the reactor/separator element into the spiral channel defined by the outside of the separation layer.

The present invention relates to a tangential flow separator element for separating a fluid medium for treatment into a filtrate and a retentate, said separator element having a monolithic rigid porous support (2) of rectilinear structure and having a single channel (3) arranged therein for passing the flow of the fluid medium for treatment, the outside surface (5) of the support presenting a profile that is constant. According to the invention, the monolithic rigid porous support (2) defines obstacles (9) to the flow of the fluid for filtering, which obstacles extend from the inside wall (3.sub.1) of said channel (3), are identical in material and porous texture to the support, and present continuity of material and of porous texture with the support, said obstacles (9) generating variations in the flow section of the channel.

A filtering element for the filtration of a fluid medium comprises a rigid porous support of cylindrical shape having a longitudinal central axis (A) and a plurality of channels for the circulation of the fluid medium to be filtered and collection of filtrate on the periphery of the support. The channels are arranged in the support parallel to its central axis central (A) and define at least three filtering zones which are distributed concentrically and separated from each other by a continuous porous zone. The mean thickness of the porous zone (Z.sub.1) closest to the central axis (A) is smaller than the mean thickness of the porous zone (Z.sub.n-1) the closest to the periphery of the support (1) and, in the direction moving away from the central axis (A) of the support towards its periphery, the mean thickness of a porous zone is either identical to the next or smaller.

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.

A tubular membrane, a membrane module, a device including a number of such membranes, and a method for manufacturing such membranes. The tubular membrane includes a tubular base providing a support and having an inner and outer surface, where the tubular base defines a lumen for the feed flow, and a membrane layer provided on the inner surface of the tubular base, where the inner surface of the tubular membrane includes a number of inwardly projecting ridges that extend in a substantially longitudinal direction of the tubular membrane.

Systems and methods are provided that obtain the same or better level of performance by using lower operating flow rates and pressures within the system. This extends the life of system components and lower energy consumption. In one embodiment, gas separation (or sieve) beds that are used to separate gaseous components are provided that have lower flow and pressure requirements compared to conventional beds. The sieve beds include, for example, a diffuser having low solid area in cross-section and maximum open area for flow while providing adequate mechanical properties to contain sieve material and support filter media. In another embodiment, systems and methods are provided having an indicator when a component has been serviced or repaired. This provides an indication whether the component has been tampered with in any manner. This allows the manufacturer to determine if the component was serviced, repaired, or tampered with outside the manufacturer's domain.

Described are porous sintered bodies and methods of making porous sintered bodies by steps that include an injection molding step.