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US 10,746,420 B1Granted
System for humidifying gas streams
AssigneeElemental Scientific, Inc.
InventorDaniel R. Wiederin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure, a gas humidifier system includes a reservoir of liquid with at least one selectively permeable tube at least partially submerged within the liquid. A gas stream may be fed into the selectively permeable tube that passes through the liquid reservoir. The selectively permeable tube may be substantially impermeable to the gas flowing therethrough but permeable to vapor (e.g., water vapor) entering the selectively permeable tube from the liquid. Thus, vapor from the liquid reservoir can enter the selectively permeable tube and humidify the gas flowing therethrough.
Claims17
A gas humidifier system, comprising:
- a reservoir configured to hold a liquid;
- a first selectively permeable tube for receiving a first flow of gas, the first selectively permeable tube extending through the reservoir so that at least a portion of the first selectively permeable tube is at least partially submerged within the liquid, wherein the first selectively permeable tube is substantially impermeable to the first flow of gas and is at least partially permeable to vapor entering the first selectively permeable tube from the liquid in the reservoir;
- and
- a second selectively permeable tube for receiving a second flow of gas, the second selectively permeable tube extending through the reservoir so that at least a portion of the second selectively permeable tube is at least partially submerged within the liquid, wherein the second selectively permeable tube is substantially impermeable to the second flow of gas and is at least partially permeable to vapor entering the second selectively permeable tube from the liquid in the reservoir, and wherein an interior of the second selectively permeable tube is physically separated from the first selectively permeable tube for preventing cross-contamination between the first flow of gas and the second flow of gas.
1 more element
A system for humidifying at least two gas streams, comprising:
- a reservoir configured to hold a liquid;
- a first input for receiving a first gas stream;
- a first selectively permeable tube fluidically coupled with the first input for receiving the first gas stream, the first selectively permeable tube extending through the reservoir so that at least a portion of the first selectively permeable tube is at least partially submerged within the liquid;
- a second input for receiving a second gas stream;
- and
- a second selectively permeable tube fluidically coupled with the second input for receiving the second gas stream, the second selectively permeable tube extending through the reservoir so that at least a portion of the second selectively permeable tube is at least partially submerged within the liquid,
- wherein the first selectively permeable tube is substantially impermeable to gas from the first gas stream and is at least partially permeable to vapor entering the first selectively permeable tube from the liquid in the reservoir, wherein the second selectively permeable tube is substantially impermeable to gas from the second gas stream and is at least partially permeable to vapor entering the second selectively permeable tube from liquid in the reservoir, and wherein an interior of the first selectively permeable tube is physically separated from the second selectively permeable tube preventing cross-contamination between the first gas stream and the second gas stream.
4 more elements
A method for humidifying at least two gas streams, comprising:
- receiving a liquid into a reservoir configured to hold the liquid;
- receiving a first gas stream in a first selectively permeable tube extending through the reservoir so that at least a portion of the first selectively permeable tube is at least partially submerged within the liquid, the first selectively permeable tube being substantially impermeable to the first gas stream and is at least partially permeable to vapor entering the first selectively permeable tube from the liquid in the reservoir;
- and
- receiving a second gas stream in a second selectively permeable tube extending through the reservoir so that at least a portion of the second selectively permeable tube is at least partially submerged within the liquid, the second selectively permeable tube being substantially impermeable to the second gas stream and is at least partially permeable to vapor entering the second selectively permeable tube from liquid in the reservoir;
- wherein an interior of the first selectively permeable tube is physically separated from the second selectively permeable tube preventing cross-contamination between the first gas stream and the second gas stream.
2 more elements
A method of humidifying at least two gas streams, comprising:
- coupling a first input of a gas humidifier system with a first gas source, the first input fluidically coupled with a first selectively permeable tube extending through a reservoir of the gas humidifier system;
- coupling a second input of the gas humidifier system with a second gas source, the second input fluidically coupled with a second selectively permeable tube extending through the reservoir of the gas humidifier system;
- introducing a liquid into the reservoir to at least partially submerge at least a portion of each of the first selectively permeable tube and the second selectively permeable tube;
- introducing a flow of gas from the first gas source through the first selectively permeable tube;
- and
- introducing a flow of gas from the second gas source through the second selectively permeable tube,
- wherein the first selectively permeable tube is substantially impermeable to the flow of gas from the first gas source and is at least partially permeable to vapor entering the first selectively permeable tube from the liquid in the reservoir, wherein the second selectively permeable tube is substantially impermeable to the flow of gas from the second gas source and is at least partially permeable to vapor entering the second selectively permeable tube from liquid in the reservoir, and wherein an interior of the first selectively permeable tube is physically separated from the second selectively permeable tube preventing cross-contamination between the flow of gas from the first gas source and the flow of gas from the second gas source.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.