Abstract: The invention relates to a multistage membrane distillation apparatus (5000), comprising a plurality of multistage membrane distillation modules (500, 600), the modules being configured to be flowed through in parallel by a liquid (F) to be concentrated. Each module comprises a plurality of serial condensation/evaporation stages (50, 60) configured to be flowed through in series by the liquid to be concentrated. Each condensation/evaporation stage comprises a plurality of parallel condensation/evaporation elements (101, 102) configured to be flowed through in parallel by the liquid to be concentrated. Each condensation/evaporation element comprises at least one condensation unit and at least one evaporation unit. The apparatus further comprises at least one of: a centralized heating stage configured to generate steam and to provide the steam to each of the modules in parallel, and a centralized condensation stage configured to receive steam from each of the modules in parallel and to condensate the steam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular flow system having a plurality of frame elements (101, 102) configured to be combined together to form a stack for forming a functional member such as in particular a membrane distillation stage, a vapor generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a filter and/or a pervaporation stage, wherein the frame elements (101, 102) each include: an outer frame (39) and an inner frame (43), the inner frame (43) encasing a central inner region (40) and being surrounded by the outer frame (39), at least one first passage opening (13 to 16) arranged between the outer frame (39) and the inner frame (43) and separated from the central inner region (40) by a frame wall on a first and/or opposite second frame side of the inner frame (43), and at least one liquid passage (45, 46) provided by the frame wall and configured to distribute a liquid from the first passage opening (13) to a feeding area (40?) and/or to collect a liquid from the feeding area (40) to the first passage opening (16a, 16b)

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular flow system having a plurality of frame elements (101, 102) configured to be combined together to form a stack for forming afunctional member such as in particular a membrane distillation stage, a vapor generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a filter and/or a pervaporation stage, wherein the frame elements (101, 102) each include: an outer frame (39) and an inner frame (43), the inner frame (43) encasing a central inner region (40) and being surrounded by the outer frame (39), passage openings (13 to 16) and vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) arranged between the outer frame (39) and the inner frame (43), wherein at least one of the vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) comprises at least one internal strut member (48) extending between the inner frame (43) and the outer frame (39).

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular flow system having a plurality of frame elements (101, 102) configured to be combined together to form a stack for forming a functional member. This functional member may be in particular a membrane distillation stage, a vapor generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a filter and/or a pervaporation stage. The frame elements (101, 102) each include: ? an outer frame (39) and an inner frame (43), the inner frame (43) encasing a central inner region (40) and being surrounded by the outer frame (39), and ? passage openings (13 to 16) and vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) arranged between the outer frame (39) and the inner frame (43). At least one of the two vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) is connected to the central inner region (40) by at least one vapor and/or liquid channel opening (22) constituting a through hole in the inner frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular flow system having a plurality of frame elements (101, 102) configured to be combined together to form a stack for forming a functional member. This functional member may be in particular a membrane distillation stage, a vapor generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a filter and/or a pervaporation stage. The frame elements (101, 102) each include: ? an outer frame (39) and an inner frame (43), the inner frame (43) encasing a central inner region (40) and being surrounded by the outer frame (39), and ? passage openings (13 to 16) and vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) arranged between the outer frame (39) and the inner frame (43). At least one of the two vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) is connected to the central inner region (40) by at least one vapor and/or liquid channel opening (22) constituting a through hole in the inner frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular flow system having a plurality of frame elements (101, 102) configured to be combined together to form a stack for forming a functional member such as in particular a membrane distillation stage, a vapor generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a filter and/or a pervaporation stage, wherein the frame elements (101, 102) each include: an outer frame (39) and an inner frame (43), the inner frame (43) encasing a central inner region (40) and being surrounded by the outer frame (39), at least one first passage opening (13 to 16) arranged between the outer frame (39) and the inner frame (43) and separated from the central inner region (40) by a frame wall on a first and/or opposite second frame side of the inner frame (43), and at least one liquid passage (45, 46) provided by the frame wall and configured to distribute a liquid from the first passage opening (13) to a feeding area (40?) and/or to collect a liquid from the feeding area (40) to the first passage opening (16a, 16b)

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular flow system having a plurality of frame elements (101, 102) configured to be combined together to form a stack for forming afunctional member such as in particular a membrane distillation stage, a vapor generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a filter and/or a pervaporation stage, wherein the frame elements (101, 102) each include: an outer frame (39) and an inner frame (43), the inner frame (43) encasing a central inner region (40) and being surrounded by the outer frame (39), passage openings (13 to 16) and vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) arranged between the outer frame (39) and the inner frame (43), wherein at least one of the vapor and/or liquid channels (17, 18) comprises at least one internal strut member (48) extending between the inner frame (43) and the outer frame (39).

Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation apparatus for producing water for injection, comprising: at least one membrane distillation module (500, 600), the module being configured to be flowed through by a liquid to be concentrated, wherein: the module (500, 600) comprises at least one condensation/evaporation stage (50, 60), the condensation/evaporation stage (50, 60) comprises at least one condensation/evaporation element (101, 102), and the condensation/evaporation element comprises at least one condensation unit (101) and at least one evaporation unit (102), the apparatus further comprising: a heating stage (300) configured to generate steam and to provide the steam to the at least one condensation/evaporation stage (50, 60) of the at least one module, and a droplet elimination device (320) comprising a membrane (321) configured to separate droplets from the steam generated by the heating stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multistage membrane distillation apparatus (5000), comprising a plurality of multistage membrane distillation modules (500, 600), the modules being configured to be flowed through in parallel by a liquid (F) to be concentrated. Each module comprises a plurality of serial condensation/evaporation stages (50, 60) configured to be flowed through in series by the liquid to be concentrated. Each condensation/evaporation stage comprises a plurality of parallel condensation/evaporation elements (101, 102) configured to be flowed through in parallel by the liquid to be concentrated. Each condensation/evaporation element comprises at least one condensation unit and at least one evaporation unit. The apparatus further comprises at least one of: a centralized heating stage configured to generate steam and to provide the steam to each of the modules in parallel, and a centralized condensation stage configured to receive steam from each of the modules in parallel and to condensate the steam.

Abstract: A system for the crystallization of a substance to be crystallized which is dissolved in a solvent, comprising a crystallization apparatus which is flowed through by a solution to be concentrated which has the substance to be crystallized dissolved therein, and by a heating steam or a heating liquid, wherein the crystallization apparatus has at least one flow passage conducting the solution to be concentrated, at least one flow passage conducting the heating steam or the heating liquid, and at least one flow passage conducting vaporous solvent, wherein a respective flow passage conducting the solution to be concentrated is at least partly separated from a respective flow passage conducting the heating steam or the heating liquid by a steam-impermeable and liquid-impermeable wall and wherein a respective flow passage conducting the solution to be concentrated is at least partly separated from a respective flow passage conducting the vaporous solvent by a membrane wall permeable to the vaporous solvent, but not

Abstract: A system for crystallizing a material that is dissolved in a solvent includes: a crystallization device through which a solution that is to be concentrated flows, the solution including the solvent containing the material to be crystallized and dissolved in the solvent, and a liquid having a lower temperature than the solution to be concentrated. The system includes at least one flow channel guiding the solution to be concentrated and at least one flow channel guiding the liquid, where the inner space of each respective flow channel guiding the liquid is delimited at least in part by a membrane wall that is permeable for the vaporous solvent, where a vapor pressure difference enables the solvent to pass from the solution to be concentrated across the membrane wall.

Abstract: A process for the regeneration of a membrane wall in a distillation apparatus, wherein a distillation apparatus having one or more evaporation and condensation stages is provided, each evaporation and condensation stage having at least one flow channel conducting a liquid, said flow channel being at least partially confined by a vapor-permeable and liquid-impermeable membrane wall, wherein vapor emerging from the liquid passes through the membrane wall. The liquid is removed from the at least one flow channel, wherein, after the removal of the liquid, the membrane wall is surrounded on both sides by a gas atmosphere, but is still wetted with liquid, and this liquid is removed by adjusting the gas atmosphere surrounding the membrane wall such that the partial pressure of the liquid in the gas atmosphere is lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid wetting the membrane wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane distillation device, comprising at least one condensation/evaporation stage, which comprises at least one condensation unit and at least one evaporation unit and to which vapor is fed and through which a liquid to be concentrated flows, wherein each condensation unit comprises a first vapor chamber that is bounded at least partially by a condensation wall and to which the fed vapor is supplied and each evaporation unit comprises a second vapor chamber that is bounded at least partially by a vapor-permeable, liquid-tight membrane wall, and in each condensation/evaporation stage at least one flow channel is provided, which is formed between such a condensation unit and such an evaporator unit adjacent to said condensation unit and which conducts the liquid to be concentrated, and thus the liquid to be concentrated is heated by means of the condensation wall, and vapor arising from the liquid to be concentrated enters the second vapor chamber through the membrane wall.

Abstract: A distillation station for separating components of a liquid mixture, comprising a vertical distillation column split into individual separation stages by fittings and which is further split by the liquid mixture feed into a stripping chamber and an enriching chamber, wherein in the stripping chamber the lower boiling fraction of vapor from the fluid mixture rising from a column sump comprising an evaporator is stripped, and in the enriching chamber the vapor is enriched with the lower-boiling fraction, which is withdrawn from a return fluid produced due to the vapor drawn from the column head being precipitated at least partially in a condenser and returned to the rectifier column, and the return liquid and the liquid mixture preferably fed between two separating stages being routed to the fittings vertically connected in sequence.

Abstract: A cooling device for cooling a fluid comprises a vertical cooling tower, into an upper area of which the fluid to be cooled is fed and from a lower area of which the cooled fluid is discharged. The fluid in the cooling tower is cooled by a cooling gas flowing from the bottom to the top. At least one installation in which the fluid is conducted is provided in the gas space of the cooling tower through which cooling gas flows. Each installation comprises at least one fluid channel that is separated at least in part from the gas space of the cooling tower by a fluid-tight membrane wall that is permeable to vapor on both sides.

Abstract: A process for the regeneration of a membrane wall in a distillation apparatus, wherein a distillation apparatus having one or more evaporation and condensation stages is provided, each evaporation and condensation stage having at least one flow channel conducting a liquid, said flow channel being at least partially confined by a vapor-permeable and liquid-impermeable membrane wall, wherein vapor emerging from the liquid passes through the membrane wall. The liquid is removed from the at least one flow channel, wherein, after the removal of the liquid, the membrane wall is surrounded on both sides by a gas atmosphere, but is still wetted with liquid, and this liquid is removed by adjusting the gas atmosphere surrounding the membrane wall such that the partial pressure of the liquid in the gas atmosphere is lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid wetting the membrane wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multistage membrane distillation device comprising a heating stage (28), preferably multiple condensing/evaporating stages (12), and a condensing stage (36) through which a liquid to be concentrated is passed in succession. Each condensing/evaporating stage comprises at least one condensing unit (K) and at least one evaporating unit (V). Each condensing unit comprises a first steam chamber that is delimited at least partly by a condensation wall (16), and each evaporating unit comprises a second steam chamber that is delimited at least partly by a steam-permeable liquid-tight membrane wall (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to an absorption refrigeration machine (10) that includes an evaporator (12) and an absorber (18) and is characterized in that the evaporator (12) comprises at least one evaporating unit (12?) having a coolant channel (26), through which the coolant (16) flows and which is delimited at least in part by a heat-conducting, vapor- and liquid-tight wall (24), and having at least one refrigerant channel (28) that adjoins the heat-conducting wall (24), is loaded with the refrigerant (14), and is separated from a vapor chamber (32) by a vapor-permeable, liquid-tight membrane wall (30) on the side of the refrigerant channel opposite the heat-conducting wall (24), and in that the absorber (18) comprises an absorption unit (18?) having a cooling-medium channel, through which a cooling medium (34) flows and which is delimited at least in part by a heat-conducting, vapor- and liquid-tight wall (36), and having an absorption channel (40) which adjoins the heat-conducting wall and to which the concent

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for separating a product contained as solvent in a solution to be processed, comprising at least one forward osmosis device (816) through which the solution to be processed and a draw solution flow, and a device connected downstream thereof for obtaining the product (56, 62) from the diluted draw solution exiting the forward osmosis device, wherein the forward osmosis device comprises at least one flow channel conducting the solution to be processed and at least one flow channel conducting the draw solution, the inner space of a respective flow channel conducting the solution to be processed is delimited at least partially by a semi-permeable membrane wall that is permeable to the solvent of the solution to be processed but not to the substance dissolved therein, and at least one flow channel conducting the draw solution is delimited on opposite sides by membrane walls that are associated with two adjoining flow channels conducting the solution to be processed, such that solv

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for drying and/or cooling gas (12), in particular air, by means of a hygroscopic solution (14), said apparatus comprising an absorption device (16) which comprises at least one gas flow duct (18) and at least one flow duct (20) carrying the hygroscopic solution, wherein the inner or gas chamber (22) of a respective gas flow duct is at least partly delimited by a vapor-permeable liquid-tight membrane wall (24) and at least one flow duct is provided, which is formed between such a gas flow duct and a further such gas flow duct adjacent to the latter or an adjacent cooling unit (26) and which carries the hygroscopic solution, so that moisture, in particular water vapor, passes from the gas into the hygroscopic solution via the membrane wall and is absorbed in said solution.