Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods that can treat feeds with elevated organic levels, e.g., feeds with ?300 Pascals (Pa) organic osmotic pressure, with one or more enhanced filter membrane modules, which may be referred to herein as membrane modules or simply modules. Preferably, a filter membrane module consistent with the present disclosure include one or more plate and frame modules, one or more spiral format modules, or a combination of plate a frame and spiral format modules. The systems and methods provided herein can provide reliable performance when used to treat feeds with elevated organic levels.

Abstract: Helical separation membranes, helical separation assemblies including one or more helical separation membranes, and separation technologies that include one or more helical membrane assemblies are described. In embodiments the helical membrane assemblies include one or more one or more helical membrane leaves. Methods of making helical separation membranes, helical membrane assemblies, helical membrane modules that include one or more helical membrane assemblies are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods that can treat feeds with elevated organic levels, e.g., feeds with ?300 Pascals (Pa) organic osmotic pressure, with one or more enhanced filter membrane modules, which may be referred to herein as membrane modules or simply modules. Preferably, a filter membrane module consistent with the present disclosure include one or more plate and frame modules, one or more spiral format modules, or a combination of plate a frame and spiral format modules. The systems and methods provided herein can provide reliable performance when used to treat feeds with elevated organic levels.

Abstract: Helical separation membranes, helical separation assemblies including one or more helical separation membranes, and separation technologies that include one or more helical membrane assemblies are described. In embodiments the helical membrane assemblies include one or more one or more helical membrane leaves. Methods of making helical separation membranes, helical membrane assemblies, helical membrane modules that include one or more helical membrane assemblies are also described.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a 3D LDS liner includes providing an LDS sheet, forming 3D contoured liners in the LDS sheet, laser structuring circuit patterns on the 3D contoured liners to provide a laser structured circuit pattern, selectively plating the laser structured circuit patterns to form circuits on the 3D contoured liners, and removing the 3D contoured liners from the LDS sheet. A formed LDS liner includes a thin LDS film having a 3D contoured surface vacuum formed from an LDS sheet. The LDS film includes an inner surface and an outer surface. A laser structured circuit pattern is etched into the LDS film, and a conductive layer is selectively plated on the laser structured circuit pattern forming a circuit on the LDS film. The circuit may have a non-planar region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a 3D LDS liner includes providing an LDS sheet, forming 3D contoured liners in the LDS sheet, laser structuring circuit patterns on the 3D contoured liners to provide a laser structured circuit pattern, selectively plating the laser structured circuit patterns to form circuits on the 3D contoured liners, and removing the 3D contoured liners from the LDS sheet. A formed LDS liner includes a thin LDS film having a 3D contoured surface vacuum formed from an LDS sheet. The LDS film includes an inner surface and an outer surface. A laser structured circuit pattern is etched into the LDS film, and a conductive layer is selectively plated on the laser structured circuit pattern forming a circuit on the LDS film. The circuit may have a non-planar region.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a ceramic membrane used in an oil recovery process. The cleaning method includes online and offline modes. In the online mode, the method includes periodically backflushing the ceramic membrane with an aqueous media. In the offline mode, the method includes backpulsing or statically cleaning the ceramic membrane by utilizing an aqueous alkaline media, an aqueous acidic media, and a liquid hydrocarbon solution.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil from an oil well includes recovering an oil-water mixture from the oil well and separating produced water from the oil-water mixture. Thereafter, the produced water is directed through a ceramic membrane that removes free oil and emulsified oil from the produced water. The method or process further includes cleaning the ceramic membrane in online and offline modes. In the offline mode, cleaning is achieved by periodically backflushing the ceramic membrane with an aqueous media having a pH of 13 or greater and a temperature of 60° C. or greater. Further, the ceramic membrane is cleaned in the offline mode by applying the following operations. In one or more clean-in-place operations, an aqueous alkaline media at a pH of 13 or higher and a temperature of 60° C. or higher is directed through the ceramic membrane. In one or more clean-in-place operations, the ceramic membrane is also cleaned with an aqueous acidic media that contains dissolved citric acid.

Abstract: A membrane filtering device includes a substrate, a support membrane supported by the substrate, and a separation membrane supported by the support membrane. The separation membrane includes material that is substantially embedded into pores of the underlying support membrane. Optionally, the support membrane includes particles that are also substantially embedded into pores of the substrate.

Abstract: A porous ceramic support for a gas separation membrane formed by sintering a green body containing grains of a refractory ceramic oxide with a high coefficient of thermal expansion and grains of a reactive binder precursor. Upon sintering, the reactive binder precursor reacts with at least one gaseous, liquid or solid reactant to create a reaction bond that binds the refractory ceramic oxide grains. The support configuration can be a tubular, flat plate, hollow fiber, or multiple-passageway monolith structure.

Abstract: A crossflow membrane device that receives a feedstock at a feed end face and separates the feedstock into permeate and retentate. The device has a membrane support containing at least one monolith of porous material defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from the feed end face of the monolith to a retentate end face of the monolith through which the feedstock flows to pass retentate from the device. A permselective membrane coating of finer pore size than that of the porous material is applied to the passageway wall surfaces of the monolith. At least one permeate conduit is formed within the monolith, the conduit containing a plurality of longitudinal permeate chambers communicating with a means of permeate introduction at or near the feed end face and permeate withdrawal at or near the retentate end face.

Abstract: A porous ceramic support for a gas separation membrane formed by sintering a green body containing grains of a refractory ceramic oxide with a high coefficient of thermal expansion and grains of a reactive binder precursor. Upon sintering, the reactive binder precursor reacts with at least one gaseous, liquid or solid reactant to create a reaction bond that binds the refractory ceramic oxide grains. The support configuration can be a tubular, flat plate, hollow fiber, or multiple-passageway monolith structure.

Abstract: A porous reaction-bonded magnesia body with small or negligible shrinkage between the green state and the fired state. The body made by forming a green (i.e., unfired) body of mixed powders containing coarse grains of magnesia in combination with at least one reactive element, and optionally other ceramic oxides and/or compounds, followed by sintering in an oxidizing atmosphere. During sintering, oxidation and/or reaction of the element grain results in an overall volume change that is negligibly small or zero. The resulting body is highly porous, and may be used as a support for a semi-permeable membrane, especially relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion, high-temperature gas separation membranes.

Abstract: A membrane device comprised of a porous monolith support formed from a reaction-bonded ceramic powder, fired in an oxygen-free atmosphere, the monolith defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from one end face of the monolith to an opposing end face. A semipermeable membrane suitable for separating a feedstock into permeate and retentate is applied to the passageway walls of said monolith. The semipermeable membrane can be selected from the group of membranes suitable for microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, pervaporation, reverse osmosis, and gas separations.

Abstract: A crossflow membrane device that receives a feedstock at a feed end face and separates the feedstock into permeate and retentate. The device has a membrane support containing at least one monolith of porous material defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from the feed end face of the monolith to a retentate end face of the monolith through which the feedstock flows to pass retentate from the device. A permselective membrane coating of finer pore size than that of the porous material is applied to the passageway wall surfaces of the monolith. At least one permeate conduit is formed within the monolith, the conduit containing a plurality of longitudinal permeate chambers communicating with a means of permeate introduction at or near the feed end face and permeate withdrawal at or near the retentate end face.

Abstract: An improved strap button and attachment wherein a carrying strap may be securely attached to musical instrument. The improved strap attachment features a two-piece design that includes a lug having a shaft upon which a hole in the strap slips around and button-type face cap that retains the strap in place. The face cap also features an ornamental design that makes the strap button more appealing. Damage to the musical instrument and transfer of musical vibrations from the instrument to the strap button is limited by the placement of rubber o-rings between the face cap and the lug of the strap button and/or between the bottom surface of the lug and instrument body.

Abstract: An omni-directional antenna assembly is provided for wireless communication devices requiring multiple polarization characteristics. A loop antenna assembly for a communications device operating at a predetermined wavelength and having a transceiver circuit including a signal output and a ground plane, the antenna assembly including a conductive loop element and a conductive leg member coupled to the loop element proximate a loop perimeter, the leg member for supporting the loop element at a distance away from the ground plane of the communications device, the leg member also defining a ground point and a feed point for operatively coupling the loop element to the ground plane and the signal output, respectively, of the transceiver circuit.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a combination patch antenna element and bowtie-shaped slot antenna element together disposed upon a first major surface of a dielectric element. The bowtie-slot antenna element is defined upon the dielectric element within a boundary of the patch antenna element. The bowtie-slot antenna element defines a first antenna electrical resonance frequency characteristic, and the patch antenna element defines a second antenna electrical resonance frequency characteristic. The combination patch antenna element and bowtie-shaped slot antenna element are provided in relation to a ground plane element, such as provided by a printed wiring board of a wireless communications device. An additional optional feature of the antenna includes a plurality of conductive pattern enhancement elements disposed on an opposite side of the dielectric element.

Abstract: A printed antenna comprises an elongate first dipole half element provided on one side of a dielectric substrate. The first dipole half element is end-fed via a microstrip transmission line. A second dipole half element is provided on the opposite side of the dielectric substrate. The second dipole includes first and second elongate elements disposed one on each side of the longitudinal axis of the first dipole half element as viewed through the substrate. The first and second elements are a quarter of a wavelength long and are parallel to the first dipole half element. A ground plane on the second side of the substrate is coupled to the first and second elongate elements at a distance from a free end of the first dipole half element corresponding substantially to a quarter wavelength of the frequency of interest.