Abstract:
Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.
Abstract:
A water distillation system includes a membrane distillation unit which produces desalinated water from feed water comprising salt water. The system also includes a primary water heater which raises a temperature of the feed water upstream of the feed water entering the membrane distillation unit. The system additionally includes an evaporative cooler which lowers a temperature of a coolant upstream of the coolant entering the membrane distillation unit.
Abstract:
Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a filtering system and method which facilitates to maximize cleaning efficiency, minimize heat energy consumption for cleaning, and shorten cleaning time by a concentrated heating only in a filtering membrane for a maintenance cleaning or recovery cleaning, wherein the filtering system comprises a membrane module including a filtering membrane; an air supplying means for cleaning the filtering membrane; and a heater for heating air supplied from the air supplying means.
Abstract:
A process for recovering a gaseous component comprising at least one fluorine-containing compound from a mixture of gaseous compounds. The process includes, in a separation zone (12), bringing a mixture of gaseous constituents, including at least one fluorine-containing constituent, into contact with a gas permeable separating medium (16) comprising a polymeric compound, so that a first gaseous component comprising at least one fluorine-containing constituent is separated from a second gaseous component comprising the balance of the gaseous constituents. The first gaseous component is withdrawn from the separation zone as a permeate (34) or a retentate, while the second gaseous component is withdrawn from the separation zone as the retentate (26), when the first gaseous component is withdrawn as the permeate, and as the permeate, when the first gaseous component is withdrawn as the retentate.
Abstract:
Desalination methods that include carbonate compound precipitation are provided. In certain embodiments, feed water is subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions prior to desalination. In certain embodiments, desalination waste brine is subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions. In yet other embodiments, both feed water and waste brine are subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions. Aspects of embodiments of the invention include carbone dioxide sequestration. Embodiments of the invention further employ a precipitate product of the carbonate compound precipitation conditions as a building material, e.g., a cement. Also provided are systems configured for use in methods of the invention.
Abstract:
An autonomous filter device and a method for improving the filter life and performance is disclosed. The filter element is equipped with one or more sensors, adapted to measure one or more characteristics or parameters of the fluid, such as temperature, pressure, or flow rate. In response to the measured characteristic or parameter, the control logic within the filter element is able to determine an appropriate response. For example, the control logic may determine that a sudden, but temporary, blockage has occurred in the filter membrane. In response to this, the control logic may initiate a specific response designed to alleviate the blockage. This response may be a temperature change, a vibration, a change in fluid flow path, or some other action. The control logic will then determine the success of the response, based monitoring any change in the fluid characteristics. Based thereon, the control logic may alert the operator that the filter element must be replaced. Alternatively, if the response was successful in correcting the blockage, the control logic need not notify the operator, as the filter element is back to normal operating operation.
Abstract:
A process for the recovery of magnesium from a solution containing soluble magnesium, the process comprising, precipitating magnesium hydroxide from the solution, forming an oxide blend including magnesium oxide derived from the precipitated magnesium hydroxide together with calcium oxide, reducing the oxide blend to form a magnesium metal vapour and condensing the vapour to recover magnesium metal.
Abstract:
A membrane module comprising an outer casing having an interior region, a seal disposed within the outer case, thereby dividing the interior region into a first chamber and a second chamber, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through the first chamber and the second chamber, where at least a portion of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes have first segments located within the first chamber and second segments located within the second chamber, the first segments being configured to allow vapor transmission therethrough, and the second segments being configured to substantially prevent vapor transmission therethrough, and further configured to allow transmission of thermal energy therethrough.
Abstract:
A closed loop water purification system comprising a feed water line (42) to supply feed water, a high pressure feed pump (62), a filter assembly (66) having an inlet supplied by the high pressure feed pump, a distribution line (68) and a reject water line (70), the reject line returning reject water from the filter assembly to the feed water line, the distribution line supplying at least one purified water take off point (86) and returning to a junction (50) in the feed water line upstream of the high pressure feed pump. The reject water line is connected to the junction in the feed water line upstream of the high pressure feed pump. A first backflow prevention device (48) is on the feed water line upstream of the junction. A second backflow prevention device (100) is on the distribution line upstream of the junction and a third backflow prevention device (80) is on the reject water line upstream of the junction. A heater system (56) is in one of the distribution line, the reject line or the feed water line.