Abstract: A microfluidic device for increasing convective clearance of particles from a fluid is provided. A network of first channels can be separated from a network of second channels by a first membrane. The network of first channels can also be separated from a network of third channels by a second membrane. Fluid containing an analyte can be introduced in the network of first channels. Infusate can be introduced into the network of second channels, and waste-collecting fluid can be introduced into the network of third channels. A pressure gradient can be applied in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow in the network of first channels, such that the analyte is transported from the network of first channels into the network of third channels through the second membrane.

Abstract: A method for static mixing in a waste water settling tank to increase the percentage of recovery of entrained solids from the waste water comprising a settling tank having a hopper bottom defining a sludge hopper, a deflector dome centrally disposed within the space contained in the hopper bottom, and an inlet pipe for introduction of waste water containing second entrained solids into the settling tank and having a discharge outlet in proximity to the underside of the deflector dome. Influent waste water is directed vertically upward into the center of the deflector dome which distributes the influent radially into contact, preferably turbulent, with previously introduced waste water containing first entrained solids to cause coalescence of the first and second entrained solids to form larger particles having increased settling velocity.

Abstract: A method for static mixing in a waste water settling tank to increase the percentage of recovery of entrained solids from the waste water comprising a settling tank having a recirculation ring and a hopper bottom defining a sludge hopper, a fluid deflector centrally disposed within the space contained in the hopper bottom having a flat portion, and an inlet pipe for introduction of waste water containing second entrained solids into the settling tank and having a discharge outlet in proximity to the underside of the deflector dome and a nozzle facing downward. Influent waste water is directed vertically downward toward the flat portion and upward into the center of the fluid deflector which distributes the influent radially into contact, preferably turbulent, with previously introduced waste water containing first entrained solids to cause coalescence of the first and second entrained solids to form larger particles having increased settling velocity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a element (12) for filtering fluids comprising an element housing (14), wherein at least one membrane arrangement (22) and at least one permeate collecting tube (18, 19) are arranged within the element housing (14) and wherein the at least one permeate collecting tube (18, 19) is arranged in an outer part (44) of the filtration element (12). The invention further relates to a filtration module (10) and a filtration system (11) comprising such a filtration element (12) as well as uses of such a filtration element (12).

Abstract: A filter device including a stationary head piece and a movable end piece and a pack of adjacent elements including a recess plate, wherein the pack is arranged between the stationary head piece and the movable end piece, wherein the recess plate includes a base element including a recess forming a filter chamber between the adjacent elements, wherein the filter device includes a filter membrane between the adjacent elements, wherein the filter membrane retains a solid content of a suspension as a filter cake and allows a remaining liquid fraction of the suspension to pass as a filtrate, wherein the recess plate includes a fluid pipe discharging the filtrate, which fluid pipe runs along a narrow edge of the base element, wherein the recess plate includes a fluid duct that connects the fluid pipe to the filter chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preventing biofouling of membranes utilized in water treatment processes (i.e., water treatment membranes) are described. Methods include X-ray excitation of luminescent materials capable of emitting in the violet to UV range (e.g., from about 180 nm to about 440 nm). X-rays are directed at water treatment modules to contact the luminescent materials within the modules and excite internal violet/UV to prevent biofouling of membranes. The methods can be utilized in conjunction with existing processing equipment and can prevent biofouling of water treatment membranes in high volume treatment processes in an environmentally friendly fashion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to floating lakes and to the treatment of the water in such lakes. The present invention further relates to large floating lakes that can be installed within a natural or artificial water body to improve water conditions that are unsuitable for recreational uses. The floating lake can be provided with a chemical application system; a filtration system including a mobile suctioning device and filters; a skimmer system, and optionally a coordination system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a filter apparatus (10) for a liquid vessel (30), in particular for aqueous urea solution. The filter apparatus (10) comprises a filter housing (11) having a through opening (12), and a liquid-permeable and air-impermeable filter element (16) which is connected to the filter housing (11) in such a way that the filter element (16) closes the through opening (12) of said filter housing (11) at least partially, with the result that the through opening (12) is liquid-permeable and air-impermeable. The filter apparatus (10) comprises, furthermore, at least one liquid outlet connection (17) which is fluidically connected to the through opening (12) of the filter housing (11). The filter apparatus (10) according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that it comprises a heating device (20; 21, 22) which is connected directly to the filter housing (11) and/or is integrated into the filter housing (11).

Abstract: A spiral wound module in which the membrane sheet is heat and pressure treated to collapse at least some of the pores of the support layer. The treated membrane can then be folded along the heat and pressure treated area to form a crease. Once folded, the membrane sheet can be wound around a perforated inner tube along with a feed channel spacer and a permeate collection sheet. The wound module can then be enclosed into a hard shell with anti-telescoping devices at each end. By collapsing at least some of the pores in the support layer, the membrane becomes less permeable to fluid in the treated area. As such, there will be less or no leakage of unfiltered fluid passing through the fold line of the membrane sheet during operation of the wound module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to portable filtration units including filter components mated with retentate and permeate flow channels wherein particle containing solutions are introduced into the portable filtration units and contacted with the filter components for filtration thereby producing a retentate outflow and a permeate outflow for capture of desired end product.

Abstract: This desalinization system, which obtains industrial-use water and drinking water from seawater and wastewater, is provided with: a purification device that purifies wastewater by removing activated sludge therefrom; a first RO membrane that removes salt from the output of the purification device by transferring said salt to first concentrated water, thereby producing industrial-use water; a UF membrane that seawater passes through and that removes particulates from said seawater; a second RO membrane that removes salt from the treated output of the UF membrane by transferring said salt to second concentrated water, producing drinking water; an agitation device to which the second concentrated water from the second RO membrane and the first concentrated water from the first RO membrane are sent to be agitated; and a third RO membrane removing salt from the liquid mixture agitated by the agitation device by transferring said salt to third concentrated water, producing industrial-use water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device comprising at least one fluid reception chamber and at least one hydrophobic filter means, wherein a vertical through the hydrophobic filter means does not have a point of intersection with a fluid level of fluids present in the fluid reception chamber. It further relates to an external functional means as well as a treatment apparatus.

Abstract: This desalinization system, which obtains industrial-use water and drinking water from seawater and wastewater, is provided with: a purification device that purifies wastewater by removing activated sludge therefrom; a first RO membrane that removes salt from the output of the purification device by transferring said salt to first concentrated water, thereby producing industrial-use water; a UF membrane that seawater passes through and that removes particulates from said seawater; a second RO membrane that removes salt from the treated output of the UF membrane by transferring said salt to second concentrated water, producing drinking water; an agitation device to which the second concentrated water from the second RO membrane and the first concentrated water from the first RO membrane are sent to be agitated; and a third RO membrane removing salt from the liquid mixture agitated by the agitation device by transferring said salt to third concentrated water, producing industrial-use water.

Abstract: This desalinization system, which obtains industrial-use water and drinking water from seawater and wastewater, is provided with: a purification device that purifies wastewater by removing activated sludge therefrom; a first RO membrane that removes salt from the output of the purification device by transferring said salt to first concentrated water, thereby producing industrial-use water; a UF membrane that seawater passes through and that removes particulates from said seawater; a second RO membrane that removes salt from the treated output of the UF membrane by transferring said salt to second concentrated water, producing drinking water; an agitation device to which the second concentrated water from the second RO membrane and the first concentrated water from the first RO membrane are sent to be agitated; and a third RO membrane removing salt from the liquid mixture agitated by the agitation device by transferring said salt to third concentrated water, producing industrial-use water.

Abstract: An oily water separator for removing oil from oil-containing water, including a vessel, a filtration membrane unit and a discharge mechanism, the filtration membrane unit containing a filtration membrane module and a returning mechanism, the filtration membrane module for performing filtration in the state of allowing the module to be immersed into the oil-containing water, the filtration membrane module having an elongated filtration membrane with an opening portion, the opening portion of the filtration membrane being fixed to one end of the filtration membrane module, the opening portion of the filtration membrane being communicatively connected to the returning mechanism, and the returning mechanism being extended along the filtration membrane toward an end on a side opposite to an end portion having the opening portion thereof, the returning mechanism being communicatively connected with the discharge mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of sealing the free end of a hollow fiber membrane for use in a single header filtration module by dipping the end of the membrane into a low-viscosity light-curable adhesive and curing the adhesive. The invention further encompasses the resulting sealed hollow fiber membrane with a diameter that is only slightly larger than the diameter of the unsealed membrane.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed which reduce stress formation in potting heads for porous hollow filtration membranes. In one example, there is disclosed a potting sleeve for forming a potting head which includes a first fixed portion and a second portion which is movable relative to the first fixed portion to reduce a peripheral extent thereof. In another example, a method of mounting a porous hollow membrane in a membrane filtration apparatus includes positioning a portion of porous hollow membranes within a mold and introducing a curable potting material into the mold so as to immerse the portion of the porous hollow membranes and at least part of one or more deformable members in the potting material. The method further includes at least partially curing the potting material to form a potting head and removing the potting head and the one or more deformable members from the mold.

Abstract: The instant application relates to a high pressure spiral-type hollow fiber membrane fabric-containing module or contactor, comprising: a high pressure module housing or vessel; a pair of end caps; liquid end ports and at least one gas port; and at least one membrane cartridge, wherein each module or contactor has one or more shims, spacers, protrusions, and/or the like on a cartridge shell exterior, on a module housing interior, on the cartridge shell exterior and on the module housing interior, and/or between the shell and the housing.

Abstract: Pasteurization system with purification of the process liquid, with a feed and evacuation conveyor system for containers. At least one treatment zone with sprinkling nozzles to spray the containers with a process liquid such as water, the treatment zone including a screening unit with a sedimentation area for the deposition of sediment from the process liquid, a closed-loop circuit to re-use the process liquid, with devices to remove the sediment from the sedimentation area for each zone and to feed the sediment into a central filter unit. The central filter unit has at least one filter module for the filtration of solid matter from the inputted sediment so that the filtered process liquid is conserved. Devices to return the filtered process liquid to one or several treatment zones are also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating a membrane separation device in a continuous flow process includes in the membrane separation device, separating a supply liquid into a first partial stream and a second partial stream, wherein flow rate of the second partial stream and/or recovery rate of the second partial stream is influenced by at least one influencing variable that varies during operation, and varying the flow rate of the first partial stream to compensate for a change of the at least one influencing variable to control flow rate and/or recovery rate of the second partial stream to a preset value.