# US 10,871,297 B2 · Humidifier utilizing filtered water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,297 B2 - Document ID: US10871297B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/888,910 - Filed: 2018-02-05 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-05 - Applicants: Keith Erwin Boonstra - Inventors: Keith Erwin Boonstra - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871297B2 ## CPC - F24F 6/14: using nozzles - B01D 39/06: Inorganic material, e.g. asbestos fibres, glass beads or fibres - B01J 20/205: {Carbon nanostructures, e.g. nanotubes, nanohorns, nanocones, nanoballs (carbon nanotubes per se C01B32/15)} - C02F 1/281: {using inorganic sorbents} - C02F 2303/04: Disinfection - C02F 2307/14: Treatment of water in water supply networks, e.g. to prevent bacterial growth - F24F 2006/006: {with water treatment} - F24F 2006/146: {using pressurised water for spraying} - Y10S 261/65: Vaporizers - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A humidifier is provided that typically includes a water filtration unit and a pump that draws filtered water from the water filtration unit, typically a carbon nanotube filter. The humidifier further includes a nozzle having an outlet orifice, wherein the nozzle is connected to the pump, where the pump forces the filtered water through the nozzle, thereby expelling the filtered water into an atmosphere in the form of a purified vapor or mist. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure comprising the steps of: pumping water through a filtration unit using a pump to form filtered water; and disbursing the filtered water through an outlet of one or more nozzles by subjecting the filtered water to a pressure of up to 3000 psi during disbursement through the one or more nozzle to atomize the filtered water and deliver a filtered mist or vapor into the volume of space within the structure; and wherein a polypropylene filter is positioned upstream of the outlet of the one or more nozzles, the filtered water passes through the polypropylene filter prior to passing out of the outlet, and the outlet of the one or more nozzles has a diameter of about 0.015 inch or less. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, wherein the filtered mist or vapor is provided to the interior of an air duct prior to being delivered to the volume of space within the structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, wherein the volume of space within a structure is a plurality of different rooms within an interior space of a building. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, wherein the volume of space within a structure is a plurality of different rooms within an interior space of a building and the one or more nozzles is positioned to add the filtered mist or vapor into an air ducting system within the building at a location proximate where air enters a room. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 4, wherein the filtered water is essentially bacteria free and essentially virus free. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, and wherein the volume of space within a structure is a one room or a plurality of rooms, and the method further comprising the step of: allowing a user to remotely regulate a humidity level in the one room or the plurality of rooms using a humidistat that is linked to a computer system that is remote from the structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 6, wherein the volume of space within a structure is a plurality of rooms within a single building and each room comprises a humidistat and the method further comprises independently regulating the providing of humidity to each of the plurality of rooms using the humidistat in each room. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, wherein the water filtration unit includes a carbon nanotube material and the carbon nanotube material absorbs contaminants passing through the water filtration unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, wherein the pump is a plunger pump capable of pumping water at a rate of at least 0.54 gallons per hour through the water filtration unit and the water filtration unit removes all contaminants larger than about 50 nanometers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more nozzles includes the polypropylene filter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, wherein the filtered mist or the vapor is essentially bacteria and virus free water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, wherein the volume of space is a plurality of rooms and the method further comprises the step of independently regulating an amount of filtered mist or vapor in each of the plurality of rooms by dispersing the filtered water through the outlet of the one or more nozzles and at least one of the one or more nozzles is positioned proximate each of the plurality of rooms or within each of the plurality of rooms. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of providing humidity to a volume of space within a structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more nozzles is a plurality of nozzles that are configured to deliver the filtered water, at a point of expulsion, as a mist at 350 psi and a vaporized fog at 700 psi. ### Claim 14 A method of controlling a humidity level in an interior of a structure or a portion of an interior of a structure comprising the steps of: producing filtered water by pumping water through a filtration unit using a pump, wherein the pump is a plunger pump capable of pumping water at a rate of at least 0.54 gallons per hour through the water filtration unit and the water filtration unit removes all contaminants larger than about 50 nanometers; forcing the filtered water through a nozzle having an outlet, wherein the nozzle is connected to the pump by a conduit; and dispersing the filtered water into a room through the outlet of the nozzle as a mist or a vapor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of controlling a humidity level in an interior structure or a portion of an interior of a structure of claim 14, wherein a flow rate of the filtered water through the nozzle is at least about 2.0 gallons per hour and the filtered water has a pressure of from about 1,000 psi to about 3,000 psi while passing through the nozzle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of controlling a humidity level in an interior structure or a portion of an interior of a structure of claim 14, wherein a flow rate of the filtered water through the nozzle is from about 20 gallons per hour to about 100 gallons per hour and wherein a portion of an interior structure is provided with the mist or vapor and the portion of an interior of a structure is an entire hospital floor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of controlling a humidity level in an interior structure or a portion of an interior of a structure of claim 14, wherein the vapor or the mist has a particle size such that the purified vapor or mist dissipates or evaporates within about 10 seconds of leaving the nozzle. ### Claim 18 A method of controlling humidification of one or a plurality of areas within a building comprising the steps of: producing filtered water; passing the filtered water through a nozzle having an outlet, wherein the nozzle is connected to a pump by a conduit and wherein the nozzle includes a polypropylene filter and an outlet orifice of the nozzle has a diameter of about 0.015 inch or less; and dispersing the filtered water through the outlet of the nozzle as a mist or a vapor and into the one or the plurality of areas within the building. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method for controlling humidification of one or a plurality of areas within a building of claim 18 further comprising the step of subjecting the filtered water to a pressure of up to 3000 psi during disbursement through the nozzle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method for controlling humidification of one or a plurality of areas within a building of claim 19, wherein the pump is a plunger pump capable of pumping water at a rate of at least 0.54 gallons per hour through a water filtration unit and the water filtration unit removes all contaminants larger than about 50 nanometers.