Low Pressure Steam Humidifier
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsWayne R. Anderson, Brad A. Terlson, Charles E. Bartlett, Brian James Ignaut
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A humidifier for direct low pressure injection of steam into a duct. A source of steam is provided, and a steam tube is in fluid communication with the source of steam. A distal end segment of the steam tube is inclined with respect to the horizontal when the system is mounted to a duct to cause condensation within the steam tube to drain back to the source of steam under the force of gravity. The distal end of the steam tube includes an opening having a lip on an inside surface of the opening, where the lip directs condensation formed at the opening to flow back into the steam tube and back to the source of steam.
Claims21
A steam humidifier system, configured to inject steam into a duct, comprising:
- (a) a source of steam;
- (b) a steam tube in fluid communication with the source of steam, the steam tube comprising:
- (i) a distal end segment that is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of less than 90 degrees when the system is mounted to a duct, wherein condensation that forms in the distal end segment drains back through the steam tube to the source of steam;
- and
- (ii) the distal end segment defining an opening having a lip on an inside surface of the opening, wherein the lip directs condensation formed at the opening to flow back into the steam tube and back to the source of the steam.
A steam humidifier system, configured to inject steam into a duct, comprising:
- (a) a source of steam, the source of steam comprising:
- (i) a reservoir for holding water;
- and
- (ii) a heater positioned in the reservoir;
- (b) a steam tube in fluid communication with the source of steam, the steam tube comprising:
- (i) a distal end segment that is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of less than 90 degrees when the system is mounted to a duct, wherein condensation that forms in the distal end segment drains back to the source of steam;
- (ii) the distal end segment defining an opening having a lip on an inside surface of the opening, wherein the lip directs condensation formed at the opening to flow back into the steam tube and back to the source of the steam;
- and
- (iii) the outside surfaces of the distal end segment of the steam tube are rounded;
- wherein the steam tube is configured to pass through an opening in a duct and be in fluid communication with the duct.
A steam humidifier system, configured to inject steam into a duct, comprising:
- (a) a source of steam, the source of steam comprising:
- (i) a reservoir for holding water;
- and
- (ii) a heater positioned in the reservoir;
- (b) a steam tube in fluid communication with the source of steam, the steam tube comprising a distal end segment that is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of less than 90 degrees when the system is mounted to a duct, wherein condensation that forms in the distal end segment drains back through the steam tube to the source of steam;
- and
- (c) a dome in fluid communication between the reservoir and the steam tube, wherein the dome is configured to support the steam tube so that a distance from the water within the reservoir to the steam tube of at least 3 inches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.