Methods for fluid separations, and devices capable of separating fluids

A condenser comprising the following elements in the order listed:

• a first cooling channel;
• a first gas flow channel adjacent to the first cooling channel;
• a liquid flow path comprising a wick;
• a second gas flow channel;
• and
• a second cooling channel adjacent to the second gas flow channel;
• wherein the liquid flow path comprises an open liquid flow channel sandwiched between a first wick and a second wick.

A process of separating fluids, comprising:

• passing a fluid mixture into the first gas flow channel of a condenser comprising the following elements in the order listed:
• a first cooling channel;
• a first gas flow channel adjacent to the first cooling channel;
• a liquid flow path comprising a wick;
• a second gas flow channel;
• and
• a second cooling channel adjacent to the second gas flow channel;
• wherein the condenser comprises a liquid outlet and a gas outlet;
• wherein the fluid mixture comprises a first component that is a liquid in the wick and a second component that substantially remains a gas during the process;
• wherein conditions during the process are such that the ratio of the gas to liquid Reynolds numbers, ReGS/ReLS, is greater than about (4500)·(Su)−0.67;
• removing the first component through the liquid outlet;
• and
• removing the second component through the gas outlet.

A condenser, comprising:

• a cooling channel;
• a gas flow channel adjacent to the cooling channel;
• and
• a liquid flow path comprising a wick;
• wherein the liquid flow path is adjacent to the gas flow channel;
• wherein the cooling channel is defined by cooling channel walls;
• a primary heat transfer surface between the gas flow channel and the cooling channel, wherein this surface has an area;
• wherein the device possesses high energy density steady-state performance such that, when ambient air at 20° C. is passed through the cooling channel at a superficial velocity of 840 cm/s and a feed stream containing 40.0 mol % water vapor in air is passed through the gas flow channel at a superficial velocity of 1700 cm/s at an entrance of the gas flow channel, the decrease in pressure of the ambient air stream through the cooling channel is no more than 4 inches (10 cm) of water column, and at least one of the following:
• (1) the energy density calculated from the volume of the sum of the cooling channel and the gas flow channel, including the volume of walls defining the cooling channel, is at least 2.0 W/cm3,
• or (2) the specific energy, calculated from the weight of materials defining the cooling channel and the gas flow channel, is at least 1000 W/kg,
• or (3) the overall mean heat transfer coefficient is at least 500 W/cm2·K based on the area of the primary heat transfer surface between the gas flow channel and the cooling channel,
• or (4) at least 70% of the water vapor in the feed stream condenses into a liquid.