Atmosphere membrane humidifier and method and system for producing humidified air

A system for producing humidified air which comprises:

• a. a membrane humidifying device that comprises at least one membrane cell and a means for introducing water into said cell wherein said membrane cell comprises:
• i. at least one sheet of a hydrophilic membrane having a first side and a second side:
• capable of osmotically transporting water from said first side to said second side:
• and
• ii. at least one screen for providing structural integrity to said hydrophilic membrane(s), wherein each screen is located adjacent to said first side of at least one membrane and wherein said screen(s) has a mesh size of about 2/0 to about 6/0 and a thickness of about 0.05 to about 0.5 millimeters;
• wherein said means for introducing water into said cell directs water to said first side(s) of said hydrophilic membrane (s);
• b. a liquid reservoir for the temporary storage of water in fluid connection with said membrane humidifying device;
• c. a means for the introduction of water into said liquid reservoir;
• and
• d. a means for regulating the pressure of water flowing from said membrane humidifying device to said liquid reservoir.

A method for producing humidified air using a membrane humidifying device which comprises at least one membrane cell and a means for introducing water into said cell and which is positioned in the flow path of air to be humidified, said method comprising:

• a. introducing ambient or low pressure water into said membrane cell(s) which comprises at least one sheet of a hydrophilic membrane, having a first side and a second side, and at least one screen for providing structural integrity to said membrane(s) wherein said screen(s) has a mesh size of about 2/0 to about 6/0 and a thickness of about 0.05 to about 0.5 millimeters;
• b. contacting said water with said screen(s);
• c. contacting said water with said first side(s) of said hydrophilic membrane(s);
• d. osmotically transporting said water across said membrane(s) to said second side(s) of said membrane(s);
• and
• e. evaporating said transported water into said flow path of air.

A method for producing humidified air using a system for producing humidified air which comprises a membrane humidifying device having at least one membrane cell and a means for introducing water into said cell;

• a liquid reservoir in fluid connection with said membrane humidifying device;
• a means for the introduction of water into said liquid reservoir;
• and a means for regulating the pressure of water flowing from said membrane humidifying device to said liquid reservoir;
• and which is positioned in the flow path of air to be humidified, said method comprising:
• a. introducing water into said liquid reservoir;
• b. introducing ambient or low pressure water from said liquid reservoir to said membrane cell(s) which comprises at least one sheet of a hydrophilic membrane, having a first side and a second side, and at least one screen for providing structural integrity to said membrane ( s ) wherein said screen(s) has a mesh size of about 2/0 to about 6/0 and a thickness of about 0.05 to about 0.5 millimeters;
• c. contacting said water with said screens;
• d. contacting said water with said first side(s) of said hydrophilic membrane(s);
• e. osmotically transporting said water across said membrane(s) to said second side(s) of said membrane(s);
• evaporating said transported water into said flow path of air;
• and
• g. flowing water not transported across said membrane(s) to said pressure regulating means and then to said liquid reservoir.