Modular sensor designs and applications thereof

A filtration system comprising:

• a plurality of filtration units arranged within a pressure vessel;
• a plurality of embeddable sensor modules integrated in said filtration units, each embeddable sensor module comprising sensing elements configured to measure properties of permeate or concentrate streams, and circuitry for transmitting measurement data/signals associated with said sensor elements;
• and
• a plurality of reading modules positioned external to said pressure vessel, each reading module configured to wirelessly power at least one of said embeddable sensor modules and receive the measurement data/signals from said at least one embeddable sensor module.

A method of monitoring a desalination process comprising:

• integrating a plurality of embeddable sensor modules into components of a desalination system and/or into components insertable into said desalination system and/or connecting between components thereof, wherein each embeddable sensor module comprises one or more sensing elements and wireless communication capability;
• positioning one or more detachable reading modules external to said desalination system components in proximity to said embeddable sensor modules;
• wirelessly powering one or more of said embeddable sensor modules by one or more of said detachable reading modules;
• measuring, via said one or more embeddable sensor modules, properties and/or conditions of feed water, permeate, and/or concentrate streams at multiple locations within said desalination system;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting measurement data from said one or more embeddable sensor modules to said one or more detachable reading modules.