System for humidifying gas streams

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas humidification methods, such as bubbling-type humidifiers with a single reservoir, face issues with corrosion and instability due to condensation and are unable to simultaneously humidify gas streams with different chemical compositions.

Innovation Solution

A gas humidifier system featuring a reservoir with selectively permeable tubes that allow independent control of gas streams, preventing gas flow but allowing vapor to permeate and humidify the gas, thus preventing corrosion and enabling simultaneous humidification of gas streams with different compositions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bubbling-type humidifier with a single reservoir is used to humidify gas streams, then the gas streams can be humidified, but the wet gas causes corrosion or instability of the control device due to condensation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of control deviceVSAvoidcorrosion from condensation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single reservoir system into multiple separate reservoirs, each handling a specific gas stream. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination and allows independent control of humidification for each gas stream, eliminating the condensation issue that affects the entire system in a single-reservoir configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a membrane as an intermediary barrier between the liquid reservoir and the gas stream. The membrane allows selective permeation of water vapor into the gas stream while preventing direct contact between the liquid and gas, thereby eliminating condensation that would otherwise occur and cause corrosion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a bubbling-type humidifier with a single reservoir is used, then gas streams can be humidified, but the system is not able to simultaneously humidify two different gas streams having different chemical composition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to humidify different gas streamsVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs multiple separate reservoirs for different gas streams, allowing each reservoir to be optimized for specific chemical compositions. This segmentation enables simultaneous humidification of gases with different chemical properties without cross-contamination, while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a humidification system where each reservoir-unit combination can independently handle different gas compositions. This multi-functional capability allows the same basic humidifier structure to serve multiple purposes by simply changing the liquid composition in each reservoir, providing versatility without requiring completely different devices for each gas type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If wet gas passes through a control device to control flow rate, then flow rate can be controlled, but the control device experiences corrosion or instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow rate controlVSAvoidstability of control device

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The membrane acts as an intermediary that separates the liquid phase from the gas phase, allowing water vapor to pass through while blocking liquid water. This prevents wet gas from reaching the control device, eliminating corrosion and instability issues while maintaining the ability to control flow rates through the membrane interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical bubbling-type humidification system with a membrane-based permeation system. This substitution eliminates the need for wet gas to pass through mechanical control devices, as the membrane provides a non-contact interface for humidification while flow control is maintained through the permeation process itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 humidifies gas streams while preventing corrosion and allowing independent control of flow rates, enabling simultaneous humidification of multiple gas streams with different chemical compositions without cross-contamination.

Implementation Method 1

The selectively permeable tube may be substantially impermeable to the gas flowing therethrough but permeable to vapor (e.g., water vapor) entering the selectively permeable tube from the liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelective permeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentUS10746420B1System for humidifying gas streams

Publication Date: 2020.08.18 ELEMENTAL SCI

AI summary

In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure, a gas humidifier system includes a reservoir of liquid with at least one selectively permeable tube at least partially submerged within the liquid. A gas stream may be fed into the selectively permeable tube that passes through the liquid reservoir. The selectively permeable tube may be substantially impermeable to the gas flowing therethrough but permeable to vapor (e.g., water vapor) entering the selectively permeable tube from the liquid. Thus, vapor from the liquid reservoir can enter the selectively permeable tube and humidify the gas flowing therethrough.