Patent ID: 7435284

Claim:
A membrane diffusion gas dehumidifier adapted to dehumidify particle-containing gas streams while minimizing loss of particles from the gas streams, the dehumidifier comprising: an inlet for the gas having a first moisture content; a treatment zone comprising a flow path having a first boundary elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of flow of the gas, a second boundary opposite the first boundary and elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of the gas, and a width comprising the distance between the first boundary and the second boundary, wherein at least one of the first boundary and the second boundary of the flow path comprises a water-permeable membrane, the membrane having a first side exposed to the treatment zone and a second side opposite the first side; a transitional flow path between the inlet and the treatment zone, the transitional flow path adapted to minimize obstruction and loss of particles during transfer through the transitional flow path; means for exposing the second side of the membrane to a treatment gas having a second moisture content, lower than the first moisture content, wherein at least some moisture passes from the gas through the membrane to the treatment gas; and a dehumidified gas outlet.