Stable solid particulate system for controlling humidity to a selected range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing humidity control technologies, such as desiccants and saturated solutions, are limited in maintaining a desired range of relative humidity due to temperature fluctuations, low surface area, and handling issues, making them unsuitable for applications like cigars, foods, and pharmaceuticals where zero relative humidity can damage products.
Innovation Solution
A stable, externally dry solid particulate system comprising a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic silica components with a small excess of soluble solids in a saturated solution, allowing for controlled moisture absorption and release, and optionally including oxygen absorbers and phase change materials to manage temperature fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If saturated solutions with excess solute are used to control humidity, then the desired relative humidity range can be maintained, but temperature fluctuations cause deviations from the expected ERH value
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the saturated solution from liquid to solid by freezing it. This phase change allows the system to maintain humidity control while becoming less sensitive to temperature fluctuations, as the solid frozen state has different thermal properties compared to the liquid state.
2Reliability
If saturated solutions with excess solute are used, then humidity control is achieved, but the solution becomes sticky and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by freezing the saturated solution into a solid state. This transformation eliminates the sticky liquid properties while preserving the humidity control function, making the material easier to handle, package, and dispense as a free-flowing granular solid.
3Reliability
If saturated solutions are used for humidity control, then moisture absorption is achieved, but the surface area is limited and surface dilution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the saturated solution into many small frozen granules or particles. This segmentation dramatically increases the total surface area compared to a bulk liquid solution, enhancing moisture absorption capacity while preventing surface dilution through the large number of discrete surfaces available for vapor exchange.
4Reliability
If saturated solutions are used, then humidity control is possible, but special packaging is required to prevent spilling and diffusion
Solution Approach 1:
By freezing the saturated solution into a solid, the patent eliminates the need for special packaging to prevent spilling and diffusion. The solid frozen granules maintain their shape and do not leak or diffuse through packaging materials, simplifying the packaging requirements while maintaining the humidity regulation function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maintains a selected range of relative humidity while being non-sticky and free-flowing, reducing the risk of product damage and extending shelf life by absorbing and releasing moisture as needed, and stabilizing temperature.
Implementation Method 1
the solution will release moisture when below its ERH causing solute to precipitate out of the solution
Implementation Method 2
It will absorb moisture from the environment when above its ERH until the excess solute goes completely into solution
Implementation Method 3
The system absorbs and releases moisture as stable solid particulate system
Implementation Method 4
The system absorbs and releases moisture as stable solid particulate system
Implementation Method 5
optionally including oxygen absorbers and phase change materials to manage temperature fluctuations
Data Source
AI summary
A stable, solid, externally dry particulate system for controlling humidity to a selected range comprising a hydrophobic silica component and a hydrophilic silica component where the hydrophobic component comprises about 4 to 10 wt. % hydrophobic nano silica particles and from about 96 to 90 wt. % of a mixture of a saturated solution of at least one soluble solid and undissolved at least one soluble solid, and the hydrophilic micro silica component comprises from about 20 to 40 wt. % hydrophilic silica particles and about 80 to 60 wt.% of the mixture of the saturated solution of at least one soluble solid and the undissolved at least one soluble solid. The saturated solution is made of at least one soluble solid dissolved into a polar liquid and has an equilibrium relative humidity when a saturated solution in the polar liquid.