Continuous gas saturation system and method
First Claim
1. A system for saturating a gas with a vapor from a liquid chemical, comprising:
- (a) a saturation vessel connected to receive a liquid chemical and a carrier gas;
(b) a gas sparger in the saturation vessel for sparging the carrier gas into the liquid chemical;
(c) means for maintaining the liquid chemical in the saturation vessel at a substantially constant level;
(d) means for controlling the temperature of the liquid chemical in the saturation vessel to a desired value, comprising (I) a system for cooling the liquid chemical, and (ii) a heater inside the saturation vessel extending vertically in the liquid a distance at least half of the as height of the liquid chemical level for heating the liquid chemical; and
(e) means for controlling the pressure of the saturated gas to a desired value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided are a system and method for saturating a gas with a vapor from a liquid chemical. The system includes: (a) a saturation vessel connected to receive a liquid chemical and a carrier gas; (b) a gas sparger in the saturation vessel for sparging the carrier gas into the liquid chemical; (c) means for maintaining the liquid chemical in the saturation vessel at a substantially constant level; (d) means for controlling the temperature of the liquid chemical in the saturation vessel to a desired value, comprising (I) a system for cooling the liquid chemical, and (ii) a heater inside the saturation vessel extending vertically in the liquid a distance at least half of the height of the liquid chemical level for heating the liquid chemical; and (e) means for controlling the pressure of the saturated gas to a desired value. The invention also relates to novel methods and systems for controlled delivery of a vaporized liquid chemical. The invention has particular applicability to the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A system for saturating a gas with a vapor from a liquid chemical, comprising:
-
(a) a saturation vessel connected to receive a liquid chemical and a carrier gas; (b) a gas sparger in the saturation vessel for sparging the carrier gas into the liquid chemical; (c) means for maintaining the liquid chemical in the saturation vessel at a substantially constant level; (d) means for controlling the temperature of the liquid chemical in the saturation vessel to a desired value, comprising (I) a system for cooling the liquid chemical, and (ii) a heater inside the saturation vessel extending vertically in the liquid a distance at least half of the as height of the liquid chemical level for heating the liquid chemical; and (e) means for controlling the pressure of the saturated gas to a desired value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of saturating a gas with a vapor from a liquid chemical, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) introducing a liquid chemical and a carrier gas into a saturation vessel, wherein the carrier gas is sparged into the liquid chemical to form a gas saturated with vapor from the liquid chemical; (b) maintaining the liquid chemical in the saturation vessel at a substantially constant level; (c) controlling the temperature of the liquid chemical in the saturation vessel to a desired sub-ambient value by cooling the liquid chemical to the desired value, and adding heat to the liquid chemical, as necessary to adjust the temperature, with a heater inside the saturation vessel, the heater extending vertically in the liquid a distance at least half of the height of the liquid chemical level; and (d) controlling the pressure of the saturated gas to a desired value. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification