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An example separation system includes a stack of membrane plate assemblies. An example membrane plate assembly may include membranes bonded to opposite sides of a spacer plate. The spacer plate may include a first opening in fluid communication with a region between the membranes, and a second openi

An example separation system includes a stack of membrane plate assemblies. An example membrane plate assembly may include membranes bonded to opposite sides of a spacer plate. The spacer plate may include a first opening in fluid communication with a region between the membranes, and a second opening in fluid communication with a region between membrane plate assemblies. Adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack may have alternating orientations such that bonding areas for adjacent membranes in the stack may be staggered. Accordingly, two isolated flows may be provided which may be orthogonal from one another.

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1. A separation system comprising: a plurality of membrane plate assemblies, wherein each of the membrane plate assemblies comprise: a spacer plate comprising a spacing region, wherein the spacer plate at least partially defines at least a first opening and at least a second opening, wherein the spa

1. A separation system comprising: a plurality of membrane plate assemblies, wherein each of the membrane plate assemblies comprise: a spacer plate comprising a spacing region, wherein the spacer plate at least partially defines at least a first opening and at least a second opening, wherein the spacer plate comprises a first surface having a first bonding area and a second surface generally opposite the first surface, the second surface having a second bonding area that is laterally offset from the first bonding area;a first membrane bonded to the first surface at the first bonding area;a second membrane bonded to the second surface at the second bonding area;wherein the membrane plate assemblies form a stack, with adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack including substantially identical spacer plates being arranged in 180° alternating orientations aligned and stacked on one another, and the first bonding area of a first spacer plate and the second bonding area of an adjacent spacer plate of the adjacent membrane plate assemblies substantially align with one another;wherein the first opening is in fluid communication with a region between the first and second membranes at least partially defining a first flow path; andone or more support plates coupled to hold the plurality of membrane plate assemblies in a stack, wherein at least one of the support plates defines at least one fluid port. 2. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the spacing region comprises a sheet comprising protrusions, cavities, textures, or combinations thereof on both sides, wherein the protrusions, cavities, textures, or combinations thereof are in contact with the first membrane and the second membrane, defining a flow path across the spacing region. 3. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the spacing region comprises an inner membrane assembly, wherein the inner membrane assembly comprises a third membrane on a first side of the spacer plate, a fourth membrane on a second side of the spacer plate. 4. The separation system of claim 3, further comprising a spacer sheet between at least two adjacent membrane surfaces. 5. The separation system of claim 1 further comprising a spacer sheet bonded to the first surface at the firm bonding area and positioned on a side of the first membrane opposite the spacer plate, wherein the side of the spacer sheet opposite to the first membrane of the first membrane plate assembly is in contact with the side of the second membrane of a second membrane plate assembly opposite to the spacer plate of the second membrane plate assembly. 6. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with a region between adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack defining a second flow path. 7. The separation system of claim 3, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with a region between adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack and the third and fourth membranes defining a second flow path, and wherein the first opening is in fluid communication with regions between the first and third membranes and the second and fourth membranes. 8. The separation system of claim 7, wherein the first flow path is configured to facilitate flow of a fluid in a first direction in the regions between the first and third membranes and the second and fourth membranes and wherein the second flow path is configured to facilitate flow of a fluid in a second direction in the region between the third and fourth membranes and between adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack defining a second flow path wherein the first and second directions are orthogonal. 9. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid port is in communication with the first opening of at least one membrane plate assembly and another fluid port is in communication with the second opening of at least one membrane plate assembly. 10. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the first and second openings are located on different edges of the spacer plate. 11. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the first flow path is configured to facilitate flow of a fluid in a first direction in the region between the first and second membranes and wherein the second flow path is configured to facilitate flow of a fluid in a second direction in the regions between adjacent plate assemblies, wherein the first and second directions are orthogonal. 12. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the first opening of each spacer plate is configured to define any of a parallel, a series, or a series of parallel flow paths for the first fluid. 13. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the second opening of each spacer plate is configured to define any of a parallel, a series, or a series of parallel flow paths for the second fluid. 14. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the first opening of each spacer plate is coupled to one or more of the fluid ports of one or more support plates. 15. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the second opening of each spacer plate is coupled to one or more of the fluid ports of one or more support plates. 16. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the separation system is immersed in a first fluid, and wherein each of the first openings are exposed to the first fluid. 17. The separation system of claim 1, wherein another fluid port is coupled to the second openings and configured to provide a second fluid. 18. The separation system of claim 1, wherein each of the spacer plates is formed from an injection molded plastic. 19. The separation system of claim 1, wherein any of the first membranes or the second membranes are forward osmosis membranes. 20. The separation system of claim 1, wherein any of the first membranes or the second membranes comprise cellulose acetate, a thin film composite, polyamide, aramid, poly(vinylidene fluoride), or polypropylene. 21. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the membrane plate assemblies further comprise interconnects configured to define a parallel flow path or a series flow path. 22. The separation system of claim 1, wherein the at least a second opening is in fluid communication with a second region defined between a first membrane of a first membrane plate assembly and an adjacent second membrane of an adjacent second membrane plate assembly at least partially defining a second flow path. 23. A separation system, comprising: a plurality of membrane plate assemblies arranged in a stack, each of the plurality of membrane plate assemblies including: a spacer plate having a substantially planar configuration, the spacer plate including: at least one peripheral surface defining a spacing region therein;a first opening;a second opening;a first side having a first membrane bonding area; anda second side generally opposite the first side, the second side having a second membrane bonding area that is laterally offset from the first membrane bonding area;a first membrane bonded to the first side at the first membrane bonding area;a second membrane bonded to the second side at the second membrane bonding area;wherein the plurality of membrane plate assemblies in the stack include substantially identical spacer plates being arranged in 180° alternating orientations;wherein the first membrane bonding area of a first spacer plate and a second membrane bonding area of an adjacent second spacer plate of adjacent membrane plate assemblies substantially align with one another to align the first membrane on the first side of the first spacer plate with a second membrane on a second side of the adjacent second spacer plate;wherein the at least one peripheral surface of both the first spacer plate and the adjacent second spacer plate align with one another;wherein the first opening is in fluid communication with a region between the first and second membranes and at least partially defines a first flow path; andwherein the second opening is in fluid communication with a region between adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack and defines a second flow path which is separated from the first flow path by at least one of the first and second membranes.