Device for reducing the relative humidity of a flowing gas
First Claim
1. A device for reducing the relative humidity of a flowing gas, said flowing gas having a temperature warmer than ambient atmosphere in which said device is disposed, said device comprising:
- a container having a top end and a bottom end with a cavity with an interior wall therebetween, and an inlet for flowing gas containing water vapor disposed at said top end;
an element consisting of heat conducting material having a through-channel therein disposed in said cavity of said container, said through-channel of said element having an opening disposed in said cavity spaced from said bottom end of said container, and having an opening forming an outlet for said flowing gas disposed at said top end of said container, said container and said element forming, in combination, means for dehumidifying and reducing the temperature of said flowing gas entering said container through said inlet by heat exchange between said flowing gas and an upper portion of said element for producing cooler flowing gas and thereby warming said upper portion of said element as said cooler flowing gas flows in a flow path from said top end of said container through said cavity to said bottom end of said container and into said through-channel and by condensing water, in said flow path, from said cooler flowing gas on said interior wall of said cavity, and by re-heating said cooler flowing gas exiting said container through the warmed upper portion of said through-channel and said outlet; and
means for thermally insulating said element from said container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A passive device for reducing the relative humidity of a flowing gas has a container in which a tube is disposed. A flowing gas passes into the-container-through a inlet and then flows downwardly through a cavity in the container, whereupon the gas transfers heat to the tube and the walls of the container. As a result, liquid water condenses from the water vapor content of the gas. The flowing gas then flows upwardly through a channel in the tube and is then warmed by the heat previously transferred to the tube, whereupon the relative humidity of the flowing gas decreases.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A device for reducing the relative humidity of a flowing gas, said flowing gas having a temperature warmer than ambient atmosphere in which said device is disposed, said device comprising:
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a container having a top end and a bottom end with a cavity with an interior wall therebetween, and an inlet for flowing gas containing water vapor disposed at said top end; an element consisting of heat conducting material having a through-channel therein disposed in said cavity of said container, said through-channel of said element having an opening disposed in said cavity spaced from said bottom end of said container, and having an opening forming an outlet for said flowing gas disposed at said top end of said container, said container and said element forming, in combination, means for dehumidifying and reducing the temperature of said flowing gas entering said container through said inlet by heat exchange between said flowing gas and an upper portion of said element for producing cooler flowing gas and thereby warming said upper portion of said element as said cooler flowing gas flows in a flow path from said top end of said container through said cavity to said bottom end of said container and into said through-channel and by condensing water, in said flow path, from said cooler flowing gas on said interior wall of said cavity, and by re-heating said cooler flowing gas exiting said container through the warmed upper portion of said through-channel and said outlet; and means for thermally insulating said element from said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification