Gas separation: apparatus – Apparatus for selective diffusion of gases – Plural separate barriers
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-22
2001-10-30
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation: apparatus
Apparatus for selective diffusion of gases
Plural separate barriers
C096S009000, C055S467100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309448
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a water vapor movement control apparatus that produces a directional property for the movement of water vapor between two spaces of differing humidity. The apparatus can be used as a dehumidifier for elimination of water vapor and moisture out of enclosed spaces in machines installed outdoors and storage housings that are placed outdoors or indoors and are prone to moisture increase, or out of the internal spaces of rooms in which humans live; it can also be utilized as a small water vapor movement control apparatus or dehumidifier for machines, housings and small rooms, that can be operated at very low power. The apparatus can also be used as a water vapor movement control apparatus, humidifier or dryness protector which draws water vapor from the outside to maintain a high condition of humidity in order to prevent dryness.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventional apparatuses for removal of water vapor from the air include electric dehumidifying air conditioners that draw in air, cool it with an evaporator to cause condensation, separate the moisture, and then immediately cool the condenser. Another method employs hygroscopic agents for chemical dehumidification of small spaces such as drawer chests and housings.
Electric dehumidifying air conditioners of the prior art require fans or pumps to draw in the moisture-containing air and cool it, and these have increased the sizes of apparatuses, thus adding to production costs. Because conventional electric dehumidifying air conditioners also require operation of the fans or pumps in order to maintain the dry state of the dehumidified spaces, their operating costs are higher.
Chemical dehumidification methods employing hygroscopic agents have limits to their moisture uptake volumes, and require exchange or regeneration of the hygroscopic agents, which also increases costs.
It is an object of the present invention, as a technical means aimed at solving the aforementioned problems of the prior art, to provide a water vapor movement control apparatus with a small size and with very low power consumption, capable of maintaining unidirectional movement of water vapor between two spaces with different humidity levels over long periods of time, in order to dehumidify or humidify one of the spaces while minimizing operation costs.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a water vapor movement control apparatus that moves water vapor from a first space that contains water vapor in the air to a second space that is separate from the first space, the water vapor movement control apparatus being provided with an insulated channel connecting the first space with the second space into which the water vapor of the first space is to be moved, a plurality of moisture-permeable membranes which are waterproof and air-permeable provided inside the channel, a plurality of chambers formed in the channel by the moisture-permeable membranes, a Peltier element that creates a temperature gradient so that the air in the chambers is always at lower temperature toward the second space end, and grounded conductive porous bodies situated proximally adjacent to the moisture-permeable membranes of the chambers which are heated and cooled by the Peltier element,
wherein each of the moisture-permeable membranes has a water-repellent side and is situated inside the channel with the water-repellent side facing the second space, the middle moisture-permeable membrane among the plurality of moisture-permeable membranes forms an approximately conical shape, the plurality of chambers include at least one chamber with an approximately conical space enclosed by an approximately conical moisture-permeable membrane, the heated side or cooled side of the Peltier element is thermally connected with the conductive porous bodies via a heat transfer body, and the parameter (moisture permeability)×(air permeability) of each of the plurality of moisture-permeable membranes decreases for the moisture-permeable membranes toward the second space end, so that water vapor in the first space is moved into the second space.
According to another feature of the invention, there is provided a water vapor movement control apparatus that moves water vapor from a first space that contains water vapor in the air and is enclosed by a metal housing wherein the outside air has a large temperature fluctuation rate, to a second space that is separate from the first space and whose air has a small temperature fluctuation rate, the water vapor movement control apparatus being provided with an insulated channel connecting the first space with the second space into which the water vapor of the first space is to be moved, a plurality of moisture-permeable membranes which are waterproof and air-permeable provided inside the channel, a plurality of chambers formed in the channel by the moisture-permeable membranes, a Peltier element that creates a temperature gradient so that the air in the chambers is always at lower temperature toward the second space end, and grounded conductive porous bodies situated proximally adjacent to the moisture-permeable membranes of the chambers which are heated and cooled by the Peltier element,
wherein each of the moisture-permeable membranes has a water-repellent side and is situated inside the channel with the water-repellent side facing the second space, the middle moisture-permeable membrane among the plurality of moisture-permeable membranes forms an approximately conical shape, the plurality of chambers include at least one chamber with an approximately conical space enclosed by an approximately conical moisture-permeable membrane, the heated side or cooled side of the Peltier element is thermally connected with the conductive porous bodies via a heat transfer body, and the parameter (moisture permeability)×(air permeability) of each of the plurality of moisture-permeable membranes increases for the moisture-permeable membranes toward the second space end, so that water vapor in the first space is moved into the second space.
According to yet another feature of the invention, there is provided a water vapor movement control apparatus that moves water vapor to a first space that contains water vapor in the air and is enclosed by a metal housing wherein the air has a large temperature fluctuation rate, from a second space that is separate from the first space and whose air has a small temperature fluctuation rate, the water vapor movement control apparatus being provided with an insulated channel connecting the first space with the second space which is the source of water vapor into the first space, a plurality of moisture-permeable membranes which are waterproof and air-permeable provided inside the channel, a plurality of chambers formed in the channel by the moisture-permeable membranes, a Peltier element that creates a temperature gradient so that the air in the chambers is always at lower temperature toward the first space end, and grounded conductive porous bodies situated proximally adjacent to the moisture-permeable membranes of the chambers which are heated and cooled by the Peltier element,
wherein each of the moisture-permeable membranes has a water-repellent side and is situated inside the channel with the water-repellent side facing the second space, the middle moisture-permeable membrane among the plurality of moisture-permeable membranes forms an approximately conical shape, the plurality of chambers include at least one chamber with an approximately conical space enclosed by an approximately conical moisture-permeable membrane, the heated side or cooled side of the Peltier element is thermally connected with the conductive porous bodies via a heat transfer body, and the parameter (moisture permeability)×(air permeability) of each of the plurality of moisture-permeable membranes decreases for the moisture-permeable membranes toward the second space end, so that water vapor in the second space is moved into the first space.
According to a preferred embodiment of the inv
Lawrence Frank M.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Simmons David A.
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