VERSATILE DEHUMIDIFICATION PROCESS AND APPARATUS

摘要

A process and apparatus for dehumidifying a gas stream is provided. The process includes steps of: a) providing a semi-permeable wall having an osmotic membrane with a plurality of pores at least some of which are operably sized to permit capillary condensation, a first side, and a second side; b) placing an osmotic fluid in a compartment formed in part by the semi-permeable wall, wherein the second side of the osmotic membrane is exposed to the osmotic fluid; c) exposing the first side of the osmotic membrane to the gas stream to be dehumidified; and d) maintaining a sufficiently high water concentration gradient across the osmotic membrane during the dehumidification process to result in a flux of water through the osmotic membrane. The apparatus includes at least one semi-permeable osmotic wall, at least one gas stream compartment formed in part by the osmotic wall, and at least one osmotic fluid compartment formed in part by the osmotic wall. Each semi-permeable osmotic wall has an osmotic membrane with a first side and a second side. The first side of each osmotic membrane is exposed to the gas stream compartment, and the second side of each osmotic membrane is exposed to the osmotic fluid compartment.