Methods, systems, and apparatuses for treating fluids using thermal gradient osmosis

A fluid treatment system, comprising:

• a feed fluid source configured to produce a feed fluid stream comprising multiple materials;
• a draw fluid source configured to produce a draw fluid stream;
• a heat transfer apparatus configured and positioned to receive the draw fluid stream from the draw fluid source and to influence a temperature of the draw fluid source to form a thermally modified draw fluid stream;
• and
• a thermal gradient osmosis apparatus downstream of the feed fluid source and the heat transfer apparatus, the thermal gradient osmosis apparatus comprising:
• a housing structure configured and positioned to receive the feed fluid stream from the feed fluid source into a first region of an internal chamber thereof and to receive the thermally modified draw fluid stream from the heat transfer apparatus into a second region of the internal chamber thereof;
• and
• a thermal gradient osmosis membrane positioned between the first region and the second region of the internal chamber of the housing structure, the thermal gradient osmosis membrane having selective permeability to at least one of the multiple materials of the feed fluid stream through thermal gradient osmosis.

A thermal gradient osmosis apparatus, comprising:

• a housing structure;
• and
• a thermal gradient osmosis membrane contained within the housing structure and comprising:
• a hydrophilic support layer;
• and
• a hydrophilic selective layer on a first side the hydrophilic support layer.