Patent ID: 8500848

Claim:
A dehumidification system for removing water vapor from an airstream, comprising: a first and second channel separated by a first membrane, wherein the first membrane is configured to facilitate removal of water vapor from an airstream flowing through the first channel by facilitating passage of H 2 O from the water vapor to the second channel through permeable volumes of the first membrane while substantially blocking all other components of the airstream from passing through the first membrane; a first pressure increasing device configured to create a lower partial pressure of water vapor within the second channel than in the first channel, such that the H 2 O moves through the first membrane to the second channel, wherein the pressure increasing device is also configured to increase the pressure of water vapor at an outlet of the pressure increasing device to a partial pressure of water vapor in a range suitable for directing the water vapor into a membrane water vapor rejection system; the membrane water vapor rejection system configured to receive the water vapor from the first pressure increasing device and to permit the water vapor to be rejected to an atmosphere while substantially blocking flow of other air components from the atmosphere from entering into the membrane water vapor rejection system; and a controller configured to control start-up, shutdown, and operation of the dehumidification system.