Abstract: A brine management system and method. The system includes one or more nanofiltration (NF) stages and one or more reverse osmosis (RO) stages. The one or more NF stages are configured to perform a diafiltration process. Each of the one or more NF stages is configured to process a NF feed and produce a NF permeate and a NF retentate. The one or more NF stages cooperatively produces a first brine output of the system. Each of the one or more RO stages is configured to process an RO feed and produce an RO permeate and an RO retentate. At least a part of the RO retentate forms a second brine output of the system. The RO feed to each of the one or more RO stages is exclusively formed from the one or more NF permeate from all of the one or more NF stages.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method of manufacturing a spiral sheet product via an additive manufacturing process, the method comprising: obtaining an electronic file representing a geometry of the spiral sheet product; and controlling an additive manufacturing apparatus to manufacture, via the additive manufacturing process, the spiral sheet product according to the geometry specified in the electronic file. The geometry of the spiral sheet product comprises: a geometric model of a spiral body revolving around a longitudinal axis, the spiral body comprising spiral sections repeating along the longitudinal axis; each spiral section comprising unit cells repeating along a spiral length of the spiral section; and each unit cell comprising a geometric pattern, such that the repetitive geometric pattern functionalizes the spiral sheet product that is arrangeable into a flat sheet product that is larger than a build chamber of the additive manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis apparatus including a reverse osmosis unit having a housing; a cylindrical drum rotatably disposed inside the housing wherein a lateral gap therebetween defines a intervening chamber, and including an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall to define an inner cylindrical feed chamber and an outer annular separation chamber therewithin; and at least one channeling structure defining a permeate channel extending radially from the inner cylindrical wall to the outer cylindrical wall, wherein a first channel end is closed and a second channel end opens into the intervening chamber. The at least one channeling structure including a membrane element extending lengthwise forming a semi-permeable interface between the permeate channel and a feed-flow-region in fluid communication with the inner cylindrical feed chamber. The apparatus including a pump to pressurize the inner cylindrical feed chamber, and a motor to rotate the cylindrical drum for generating centrifugal force.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method of manufacturing a spiral sheet product via an additive manufacturing process, the method comprising: obtaining an electronic file representing a geometry of the spiral sheet product; and controlling an additive manufacturing apparatus to manufacture, via the additive manufacturing process, the spiral sheet product according to the geometry specified in the electronic file. The geometry of the spiral sheet product comprises: a geometric model of a spiral body revolving around a longitudinal axis, the spiral body comprising spiral sections repeating along the longitudinal axis; each spiral section comprising unit cells repeating along a spiral length of the spiral section; and each unit cell comprising a geometric pattern, such that the repetitive geometric pattern functionalizes the spiral sheet product that is arrangeable into a flat sheet product that is larger than a build chamber of the additive manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for reverse osmosis, the apparatus comprising: a single-stage reverse osmosis (SSRO) unit; and a counter-current membrane cascade with recycle (CMCR) unit comprising a plurality of stages of reverse osmosis including at least a first stage and a second stage wherein permeate from the first stage is configured to be introduced as feed to the second stage; wherein retenate from the SSRO unit is configured to be introduced as feed to the first stage, and wherein product obtained using the apparatus comprises permeate from the SSRO unit and permeate from a last stage of the CMCR unit.

Abstract: A spacer for a membrane module, the spacer comprising: a plurality of first filaments defining a plurality of fluid flow channels, in use the plurality of fluid flow channels being adjacent a membrane of the membrane module; and a plurality of second filaments provided on the plurality of first filaments and extending into the fluid flow channels, the second filaments moveable relative to the first filaments in response to an external stimulus during flow of fluid in the fluid flow channels.

Abstract: A spacer for a membrane module, the spacer comprising: a plurality of first filaments defining a plurality of fluid flow channels, in use the plurality of fluid flow channels being adjacent a membrane of the membrane module; and a plurality of second filaments provided on the plurality of first filaments and extending into the fluid flow channels, the second filaments moveable relative to the first filaments in response to an external stimulus during flow of fluid in the fluid flow channels.

Abstract: An apparatus for reverse osmosis, the apparatus comprising: a single-stage reverse osmosis (SSRO) unit; and a counter-current membrane cascade with recycle (CMCR) unit comprising a plurality of stages of reverse osmosis including at least a first stage and a second stage wherein permeate from the first stage is configured to be introduced as feed to the second stage; wherein retenate from the SSRO unit is configured to be introduced as feed to the first stage, and wherein product obtained using the apparatus comprises permeate from the SSRO unit and permeate from a last stage of the CMCR unit.

Abstract: A method of determining a state of biofouling of a membrane is provided. The membrane is contained within a flow cell and the flow cell has an outer surface coupled to a tranducer, The method comprises introducing inorganic particles into the flow cell such that the inorganic particles form a part of a top surface of a foulant layer on the membrane. The transducer then emits acoustic waves towards the membrane and an acoustic signature of reflected sound waves are detected. A state of biofouling of the membrane is determined based on the detected acoustic signature. A method and an apparatus are also provided for determining a state of biofouling in commercial membrane modules such as spiral wounded membrane modules.

Abstract: A method of determining a state of biofouling of a membrane is provided. The membrane is contained within a flow cell and the flow cell has an outer surface coupled to a tranducer, The method comprises introducing inorganic particles into the flow cell such that the inorganic particles form a part of a top surface of a foulant layer on the membrane. The transducer then emits acoustic waves towards the membrane and an acoustic signature of reflected sound waves are detected. A state of biofouling of the membrane is determined based on the detected acoustic signature. A method and an apparatus are also provided for determining a state of biofouling in commercial membrane modules such as spiral wounded membrane modules.