Bubble-Column-Humidification Apparatus and Method

A bubble-column-humidification apparatus, comprising:

• a feed-liquid source containing a feed liquid;
• a humidifier chamber configured to receive the feed liquid from the feed-liquid source;
• a bubble distributor contained in the humidifier chamber;
• a humidifier bath of the feed liquid contained in the humidifier chamber above the bubble distributor, wherein the feed liquid in the humidifier bath forms a continuous and majority phase of the humidifier bath and fills a majority of the humidifier chamber, and wherein the width of the humidifier bath is at least twice as great as its height;
• a carrier-gas source containing a carrier gas;
• and
• a lower gas region contained in the humidifier chamber and located below the bubble distributor and the humidifier bath, wherein the lower gas region of the humidifier chamber is configured to receive the carrier gas from the carrier-gas source and to disperse the carrier gas through the bubble distributor, wherein the carrier gas in the lower gas region has a pressure greater than a hydrostatic pressure of the humidifier bath.