Patent ID: 8241399

Claim:
A method, comprising: providing a first gas stream having a first temperature and moisture content approximately saturating the first gas stream, wherein the step of providing the first gas stream having the first temperature and the moisture content approximately saturating the first gas stream comprises: providing a saturator; providing a gas stream; applying the gas stream to the saturator; providing a heating source; the gas stream contacting the heating source and saturator in staged and counter current flow to evaporate moisture into the gas stream to produce the first gas stream having the first temperature and the moisture content approximately saturating the first gas stream, removing the moisture content from the first gas stream to form a second gas stream having a second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream wherein the step of removing the moisture content from the first gas stream to form the second gas stream having the second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream comprises: providing a dehumidifier; applying the first gas stream to the dehumidifier; the dehumidifier interacting with the first gas stream to remove the moisture content from the first gas stream to form the second gas stream having the second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream comprising the dehumidifier contacting the first gas stream with a desiccant in staged and counter-current flow removing the moisture content from the first gas stream to form the second gas stream having the second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream, heat exchanging the second gas stream having the second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream and wherein the step of heat exchanging the second gas stream having the second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream comprises: providing a heat exchanger; and applying the second gas stream having the second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream counter-currently and in staged flow to the heat exchanger heat exchanging the second gas stream at the heat exchanger.