Patent ID: 6539731
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: B01D,F24F

Abstract:
A process for dehumidifying a gas stream comprising the steps of bringing the humid gas stream into contact with the front surface of a first layer of hydrophilic material, the material having through pores to a rear surface of the first layer; condensing water from the gas stream onto the surfaces of the pores within the first layer and transporting condensed water to the rear surface through capillary action; maintaining a water concentration gradient across a porous osmotic layer disposed on the rear surface of the first layer, wherein the step of maintaining a water concentration gradient includes having an osmotic fluid in continuous contact with the outwardly facing surface of the osmotic layer, and maintaining a sufficiently high water concentration gradient across the osmotic layer during the dehumidification process to result in a continuous flux of water, by osmosis, from the first layer through the osmotic layer into the osmotic fluid during the dehumidification process.