Mixture forming method and apparatus

摘要

The present invention provides an apparatus for forming a mixture containing a regulated, low concentration of a target component within a carrier fluid. In accordance with the present invention, the carrier fluid is passed through the bed (28) including a compound having two phases with one of the two phases containing the target component. A vapor phase of the target component exists within the bed in equilibrium with the target component contained within at least one of the two phases. The vapor phase has a partial pressure dependent upon bed temperature. The carrier fluid is then passed through the bed so that it contains the target component upon leaving the bed at essentially the partial pressure of the vapor phase. The target component concentration is dependent upon a quotient of the partial pressure of the vapor phase and carrier fluid total pressure. Regulation of the bed temperature and carrier fluid total pressure will in turn regulate the concentration of the target component within the carrier fluid. Additionally, concentration can be further regulated by diluting the mixture passing from the bed with additional carrier fluid. In such case, concentration will additionally be dependent upon a quotient of bed flow rate and total flow rate.