34results about How to "Prevent water condensation" patented technology

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for sterilizing articles using an ozone-containing gas, where condensation of water from the sterilization atmosphere during the sterilization process is substantially prevented. The inventive sterilization method includes providing a sterilization chamber and placing an article into the sterilization chamber. The sterilization chamber is sealed prior to equalizing the temperature of the article and the atmosphere in the sterilization chamber. A vacuum is applied to achieve a preselected vacuum pressure in the sterilization chamber. Once the vacuum pressure is set, water vapour is supplied to the sterilization chamber. Ozone-containing gas is then supplied to the sterilization chamber and the sterilization chamber remains sealed for a preselected treatment period, where the sterilization chamber remains sealed throughout the whole process. Finally, vacuum in the sterilization chamber is released.

A refrigerated unit is well suited for storing fruits and vegetables. A household-sized refrigerated unit includes a storage space for retaining fruits and vegetables. The temperature within the storage space is controllable within a range of approximately 40-65 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity level within the storage space is regulated to prevent unnecessary desiccation of the fruit and vegetables, and to prevent excessive condensation. The unit is provided with a mechanism for regulating the level of ethylene gas within the storage space to either retard or accelerate ripening, as desired.

An optical lens assembly containing a plural number of lens elements for an optical system to be incorporated into a tip end portion of an endoscopic insertion instrument. Of a plural number of lenses which constitute an optical system, a metal film layer is formed on confronting outer peripheral surface portions of at least two adjacently located lenses, outside respective effective lens areas, and the two adjacently located lenses are assembled and fixedly bonded together by applying solder to the outer peripheral surface portions with a metal film layer.

A cell assembly (10) includes a first unit cell (12) and a second unit cell (14). The first unit cell (12) and the second unit cell (14) are juxtaposed such that electrode surfaces of the first unit cell (12) and electrode surfaces of the second unit cell (14) are aligned in parallel with each other. An oxygen-containing gas flow passage (32) includes a first oxygen-containing gas passage (38) in the first unit cell (12), an oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40) in a connection passage member (16), and a second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) in the second unit cell (14). The first oxygen-containing gas passage (38), the oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40), and the second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) are connected serially from the first unit cell (12) to the second unit cell (14).

A refrigerated unit is well suited for storing fruits and vegetables. A household-sized refrigerated unit includes a storage space for retaining fruits and vegetables. The temperature within the storage space is controllable within a range of approximately 40-65 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity level within the storage space is regulated to prevent unnecessary desiccation of the fruit and vegetables, and to prevent excessive condensation. The unit is provided with a mechanism for regulating the level of ethylene gas within the storage space to either retard or accelerate ripening, as desired.

An optical lens assembly containing a plural number of lens elements for an optical system to be incorporated into a tip end portion of an endoscopic insertion instrument. Of a plural number of lenses which constitute an optical system, a metal film layer is formed on confronting outer peripheral surface portions of at least two adjacently located lenses, outside respective effective lens areas, and the two adjacently located lenses are assembled and fixedly bonded together by applying solder to the outer peripheral surface portions with a metal film layer.

A method of forming a surface-treated hydrocarbon-based polymer film includes: supplying a hydrocarbon gas as a source gas, and an inert gas, and applying RF power to generate a plasma and form a hydrocarbon-based principal film on a substrate; and without extinguishing a plasma, changing flow of the hydrocarbon gas and the inert gas by continuously decreasing a flow ratio of the hydrocarbon gas to the inert gas with time to treat a surface of the principal film on the substrate.

A fuel system comprising a liquid fuel tank, an engine, and a coalescing filter adapted to separate water from fuel, the filter having an inlet fluidically connected to the fuel tank, a first outlet fluidically connected to a fuel feed system for the engine, and a second outlet fluidically connected to the fuel tank, wherein the coalescing filter is adapted to discharge fuel filtrate from the second outlet and filtrand from the first outlet. Also, a method of removing water or ice from a fuel tank, the method comprising directing a flow of fuel from a fuel tank to a coalescing filter adapted to separate water from fuel, discharging filtrand from a first outlet of the coalescing filter to a fuel feed system for consumption by an engine, and discharging fuel filtrate from a second outlet of the coalescing filter and returning the fuel filtrate to the fuel tank.

A power augmentation method for a gas turbine in which water is injected into one or more stages of an auxiliary compressor to produce a vapor containing gas stream. The vapor containing gas stream is at least in part introduced into combustors of the gas turbine for power augmentation. Part of the vapor containing compressed gas stream can be introduced into a reactor to generate a hydrogen containing synthesis gas to support lower flame temperatures occurring within the combustors of the gas turbine due to the introduction of the vapor containing gas stream. In such manner, NOx emissions of the gas turbine can be reduced. Furthermore, the power augmentation method can be conducted in conjunction with an integrated gasification combined cycle.

Embodiments of the present invention feature heat exchange surfaces having a layer or coating having a lower surface tension than water, to repel water and prevent the formation of condensate on said surface.

A fuel system comprising a liquid fuel tank, an engine, and a cyclonic separator having an inlet fluidically connected to the fuel tank, a first outlet fluidically connected to an engine fuel feed system, and a second outlet. The cyclonic separator is adapted to discharge relatively denser material from the first outlet and relatively less dense material from the second outlet. The fuel system may be used to remove water or ice from the fuel tank by separating the liquid fuel in the tank into water rich fuel and purified fuel using the cyclonic separator. The water rich fuel is discharged to the engine where the water is burnt off with the fuel. The cyclonic separator may be retrofit in an existing fuel system. The fuel system may be in an aircraft.

A water heater with two non-condensing flues and a condensing flue(s) having a system to prevent condensation in the non-condensing flue(s). The downwardly extending first flue is connected by a 180 degree connector to an upwardly extending second flue. Between the non-condensing and the condensing flues is positioned a temperature sensor. A controller receives input from the temperature sensor and is connected to the burner to control the minimum power setting and duration so as to prevent the combustion gases from falling below a temperature at which water will condense at the temperature sensor so no condensation occurs in the first two flues. Burner power settings are minimized near a water tank setpoint to improve efficiency by increasing condensation.

A power augmentation method for a gas turbine in which water is injected into one or more stages of an auxiliary compressor to produce a vapor containing gas stream. The vapor containing gas stream is at least in part introduced into combustors of the gas turbine for power augmentation. Part of the vapor containing compressed gas stream can be introduced into a reactor to generate a hydrogen containing synthesis gas to support lower flame temperatures occurring within the combustors of the gas turbine due to the introduction of the vapor containing gas stream. In such manner, NOx emissions of the gas turbine can be reduced. Furthermore, the power augmentation method can be conducted in conjunction with an integrated gasification combined cycle.

A fuel system comprising a liquid fuel tank, an engine, and a cyclonic separator having an inlet fluidically connected to the fuel tank, a first outlet fluidically connected to an engine fuel feed system, and a second outlet. The cyclonic separator is adapted to discharge relatively denser material from the first outlet and relatively less dense material from the second outlet. The fuel system may be used to remove water or ice from the fuel tank by separating the liquid fuel in the tank into water rich fuel and purified fuel using the cyclonic separator. The water rich fuel is discharged to the engine where the water is burnt off with the fuel. The cyclonic separator may be retrofit in an existing fuel system. The fuel system may be in an aircraft.

A cyclonic separator with an inlet, a fuel outlet, an inner wall comprising a water-permeable material, an outer wall, a cavity between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a water outlet. The cyclonic separator is adapted to discharge water from the water outlet via the cavity and relatively less dense liquid fuel from the fuel outlet. The water-permeable material enables water in the cyclonic separator to flow through the water-permeable material into the cavity, but substantially prevents liquid fuel in the cyclonic separator from doing so.

The present invention provides a fuel stack comprising: a plurality of fuel cell units stacked together in a direction of stacking each of which comprises an electrolyte element, a pair of electrodes holding the electrolyte element therebetween, and a pair of separators holding the electrodes therebetween; a pair of terminal plates each of which is disposed outside an end fuel cell unit located at an end of the stacked fuel cell units; and a terminal element extending outwardly in the direction of stacking from the outside surface of at least one of the terminal plates; wherein the location from which the terminal element extends is located within an area on the terminal plate, corresponding to an area in a passage for an oxidizing gas formed in the end fuel cell unit disposed adjacent to the terminal element where the partial pressure of water vapor is lower than the saturated water vapor pressure. More preferably, the terminal element is disposed as close to the centerline of the terminal plate as possible so that the total electrical resistance of the terminal element and the terminal plate is minimized. By this configuration, an increase in the total electrical resistance and water vapor condensation in the fuel cell units located at the ends of the stack may be prevented.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for sterilizing articles using an ozone-containing gas, where condensation of water from the sterilization atmosphere during the sterilization process is substantially prevented. The inventive sterilization method includes providing a sterilization chamber and placing an article into the sterilization chamber. The sterilization chamber is sealed prior to equalizing the temperature of the article and the atmosphere in the sterilization chamber. A vacuum is applied to achieve a preselected vacuum pressure in the sterilization chamber. Once the vacuum pressure is set, water vapour is supplied to the sterilization chamber. Ozone-containing gas is then supplied to the sterilization chamber and the sterilization chamber remains sealed for a preselected treatment period, where the sterilization chamber remains sealed throughout the whole process. Finally, vacuum in the sterilization chamber is released.

Methods and systems are provided for exhaust heat recovery and hydrocarbon trapping at an exhaust bypass assembly. Exhaust gas may flow in both directions through an exhaust bypass passage and each of a HC trap and a heat exchanger coupled to the bypass passage. The HC trap may be purged with the hot exhaust and heat from the exhaust may be recovered at the heat exchanger.

A fuel cell includes cell assemblies connected to each other by a fuel gas connection passage, an oxygen-containing gas connection passage, and a coolant connection passage. A fuel gas adjusting mechanism, an oxygen-containing gas adjusting mechanism, and a coolant adjusting mechanism are connected respectively to the fuel gas connection passage, the oxygen-containing gas connection passage, and the coolant connection passage. These adjusting mechanisms adjust the temperatures in the cell assemblies, the relative humidity in the fuel gas, and the relative humidity in the oxygen-containing gas.

An apparatus and method for microwave vacuum-drying of organic materials, such as food products. The apparatus has a microwave vacuum chamber 20, a loading module 36 to load containers 38 of the organic material into the vacuum chamber, a rotatable cylindrical cage 64 in the vacuum chamber for rotating the containers, a piston 114 for moving the rotating containers through the vacuum chamber, and means for unloading the containers of dehydrated material from the vacuum chamber. The apparatus may include an equilibration chamber 150 for cooling the dehydrated material under reduced pressure, and a transfer module 42 to transfer the containers from the vacuum chamber to the equilibration chamber. The apparatus has a microwave transparent window 54 for transmission of radiation into the vacuum chamber, and a gas jet 58, 60, 62 for blowing a stream of gas, such as air or nitrogen, into the vacuum chamber adjacent to the window.

Provided is a cryostat that can effectively prevent water condensation on the surface of a cell.The cryostat includes: a casing having an inlet port and exit port; a cell housing provided in the casing; a temperature controller for adjusting the temperature of the cell; a first optical path tube for guiding a light beam from the inlet port of the casing to the cell housing; a second optical path tube for guiding the light beam having passed through the cell housing to the exit port of the casing; first and second optical windows disposed at openings, exposed to the outside, of the first and second optical path tubes, respectively; and sealing materials having a water vapor transmission rate of 30000 cc·cm2·mm·sec·cm Hg×1010 or lower, disposed at the peripheries of the first and second optical windows to seal the first and second optical path tubes.

A cyclonic separator with an inlet, a fuel outlet, an inner wall comprising a water-permeable material, an outer wall, a cavity between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a water outlet. The cyclonic separator is adapted to discharge water from the water outlet via the cavity and relatively less dense liquid fuel from the fuel outlet. The water-permeable material enables water in the cyclonic separator to flow through the water-permeable material into the cavity, but substantially prevents liquid fuel in the cyclonic separator from doing so.

A misfire prevention water agitator system and method are disclosed. The system may include a boosted engine having a charge air cooler arranged in an engine intake passage downstream of a compressor and upstream of an intake manifold. The system may also include a bypass coupling an outlet tank of the charge air cooler with the intake manifold, the line including an agitator mounted within 45 degrees of vertical.

A heated catalyst support device for a reactor including a reactor vessel containing a bed of catalyst particles. The device includes a permeable support plate having a channel extending therethrough, where the support plate is adapted to contact the bed of catalyst particles. The device further includes a heating element extending through the channel in the support plate. A method for starting up a water gas shift reactor is provided that includes applying heat to the bed of catalyst particles using the heating element, measuring a temperature in the bed of catalyst particles. and starting up the water gas shift reactor when the temperature exceeds a saturation temperature for a desired operating pressure.

A reservoir unit (200) is provided comprising a housing (201) in which a reservoir (250) with a transparent portion (251) is arranged, the housing comprising a window (203) allowing a portion of the reservoir to be inspected. The reservoir unit is adapted to be moved from a first “cold” condition to a second “warm” condition with no visible water condensing on the interior surface of the window portion. Further, a vent (210, 211) is adapted to provide pressure equalization between the interior of the housing and the exterior. In this way it is possible to perform visual inspection of the reservoir at all times without being confused by dew or condensed water drops, e.g. when a prefilled reservoir unit containing a drug which requires storage at a given low temperature, as is the case for insulin-containing drugs, is taken out in ambient temperature.

A breathing mask having an elongated body having inhalation and exhalation compartments, each of which having openings and valve members over the openings and filters, and a hood assembly having a hood cover, made of a fabric to cover the top, nape and sides of a wearer's head, a transparent face shield connected to the hood cover, which has an upper portion of sight and a lower portion for breathing; the breathing mask is inserted into a hole inside the face shield and secured to it by means of a seal.

A reservoir unit is provided comprising a housing in which a reservoir with a transparent portion is arranged, the housing comprising a window allowing a portion of the reservoir to be inspected. The reservoir unit is adapted to be moved from a first “cold” condition to a second “warm” condition with no visible water condensing on the interior surface of the window portion. Further, the vent is adapted to provide pressure equalization between the interior of the housing and the exterior. In this way it is possible to perform visual inspection of the reservoir at all times without being confused by dew or condensed water drops, e.g. when a prefilled reservoir unit containing a drug which requires storage at a given low temperature, as is the case for insulin-containing drugs, is taken out in ambient temperature.

A cell assembly (10) includes a first unit cell (12) and a second unit cell (14). The first unit cell (12) and the second unit cell (14) are juxtaposed such that electrode surfaces of the first unit cell (12) and electrode surfaces of the second unit cell (14) are aligned in parallel with each other. An oxygen-containing gas flow passage (32) includes a first oxygen-containing gas passage (38) in the first unit cell (12), an oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40) in a connection passage member (16), and a second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) in the second unit cell (14). The first oxygen-containing gas passage (38), the oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40), and the second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) are connected serially from the first unit cell (12) to the second unit cell (14).

Lignocellulosic materials can be press formed into mats using heated carbon dioxide and a phenol formaldehyde resin. Employing this method allows for a reduction or even elimination of the use of steam. The carbon dioxide, along with other gases may be recovered for recycle or disposal thus reducing the environmental footprint the process.

A water heater with two non-condensing flues and a condensing flue(s) having a system to prevent condensation in the non-condensing flue(s). The downwardly extending first flue is connected by a 180 degree connector to an upwardly extending second flue. Between the non-condensing and the condensing flues is positioned a temperature sensor. A controller receives input from the temperature sensor and is connected to the burner to control the minimum power setting and duration so as to prevent the combustion gases from falling below a temperature at which water will condense at the temperature sensor so no condensation occurs in the first two flues. Burner power settings are minimized near a water tank setpoint to improve efficiency by increasing condensation.