Gas heater, a gas supply apparatus and a method of providing gas

A gas heater for connection to a heat source and a pressurised gas source, the gas heater comprising:

• a jacket having a gas inlet and a gas outlet and defining a cavity therebetween and comprising a cylinder made of a heat-conductive material;
• a porous heat exchanger extending within said cavity, from said inlet to said outlet, wherein the heat exchanger is in heat-conductive communication with the jacket to enable transfer of heat from the jacket to the heat exchanger;
• a flow deflector arranged within the jacket, the flow deflector arranged in use to direct gas along a tortuous route through the heat exchanger and comprising either a disk or a spiral thread;
• and
• a heat provider for providing heat to said heat exchanger along the length thereof, wherein the jacket is adapted to receive a heating element and to conduct heat from the heating element to the porous heat exchanger contained therein.