Vapor collection method and apparatus

A method comprising;

• (a) providing at least one material having at least one major surface with an adjacent gas phase;
• (b) positioning a chamber in close proximity to said surface of said material to define a gap between said chamber and said surface, wherein said adjacent gas phase between said chamber and said surface define a region possessing an amount of mass;
• and
• (c) inducing transport of at least a portion of said mass from said region through said chamber, wherein M1 means total net time-average mass flow through said gap into said region resulting from pressure gradients, M2 means time-average mass flow from said at least one major surface of said material into said region, M3means total net time-average mass flow through said gap into said region resulting from motion of said material, and M4 means time-average rate of mass transport through said chamber such that M1+M2+M3=M4;
• and for the present method the total net average velocity of M1 is no greater than 0.5 meters/second.

A method comprising;

• (a) providing at least one material having at least one major surface with an adjacent gas phase, said material including at least one evaporative component;
• (b) positioning a chamber in close proximity to said surface of said material to define a gap between said chamber and said surface, wherein said adjacent gas phase between said chamber and said surface define a region possessing an amount of mass;
• (c) supplying energy to vaporize said at least one evaporative component to form a vapor component in said mass of said adjacent gas phase;
• and
• (d) inducing transport of at least a portion of said mass from said region through said chamber, wherein M1 means total net time-average mass flow through said gap into said region resulting from pressure gradients, M2 means time-average mass flow from said at least one major surface of said material into said region, M3 means total net time-average mass flow through said gap into said region resulting from motion of said material, and M4 means time-average rate of mass transport through said chamber such that M1+M2+M3=M4;
• and for the present method M1 has a value greater than zero but not greater than 0.25 kg/second/meter.

A method comprising:

• (a) providing at least one material having at least one major surface with an adjacent gas phase;
• (b) positioning a chamber in close proximity to at least one end of a gap drying apparatus, internally to a gap drying apparatus, or combinations thereof, said chamber in close proximity to said surface of said material to define a gap between said chamber and said surface, wherein said adjacent gas phase between said chamber and said surface define a region possessing an amount of mass;
• and
• (c) inducing transport of at least a portion of said mass from said region through said chamber, wherein M1 means total net time-average mass flow through said gap into said region resulting from pressure gradients, M2 means time-average mass flow from said at least one major surface of said material into said region, M3 means total net time-average mass flow through said gap into said region resulting from motion of said material, and M4 means time-average rate of mass transport through said chamber such that M1+M2+M3=M4;
• and for the present method M1 has a value greater than zero but not greater than 0.25 kg/second/meter.

An apparatus comprising;

• (a) a support mechanism for supporting material, said material having at least one major surface with an adjacent gas phase;
• (b) a chamber positioned in close proximity to a surface of said material to define a gap between said chamber and said surface, wherein said adjacent gas phase between said chamber and said surface define a region possessing an amount of mass;
• and
• (c) a mechanism in communication with said chamber to induce transport of at least a portion of said mass from said adjacent gas phase through said region, wherein M1 means total net time-average mass flow through said gap into said region resulting from pressure gradients, M2 means time-average mass flow from said at least one major surface of said material into said region, M3 means total net time-average mass flow through said gap into said region resulting from motion of said material, and M4 means time-average rate of mass transport through said chamber such that M1+M2+M3=M4;
• and for the present method M1 has a value greater than zero but not greater than 0.25 kg/second/meter.