Membrane dehumidification

Claim 1

A system for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising: a microporous vapor exchange medium having a first microporous surface disposed to be exposed to the ambient atmosphere from which an amount of water vapor is to be removed and a second microporous surface opposite said first surface said surfaces being in communication through the micropores; a quantity of moving hygroscopic collecting fluid medium contacting said second surface of said membrane in relative motion thereto such that water molecules migrate from the ambient atmosphere to sorption by the collecting fluid via the microporous membrane structure, and wherein the microporous medium is not wet by said collection fluid; means for regenerating said collecting medium by removing sorbed water from the collecting medium without returning the sorbed water to the conditioned space; and means for circulating said collecting fluid between said microporous exchange medium and said regenerating means.

Claim 2

A system for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising: a microporous vapor exchange medium having a first microporous surface disposed to be exposed to the ambient atmosphere from which an amount of water vapor is to be removed and a second microporous surface opposite said first surface said surfaces being in communication through the micropores; a quantity of moving hygroscopic collecting fluid medium contacting said second surface of said membrane in relative motion thereto such that water molecules migrate from the ambient atmosphere to sorption by the collecting fluid via the microporous membrane structure, and wherein the microporous medium is not wet by said collection fluid; means for regenerating said collecting medium by removing sorbed water from the collecting medium without returning the sorbed water to the conditioned space; and means for circulating said collecting fluid between said microporous exchange medium and said regenerating means.

Claim 5

A method for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising the steps of: exposing the ambient atmosphere to a first surface of a microporous vapor exchange medium having a first microporous surface disposed to be exposed to the ambient atmosphere from which an amount of water vapor is to be removed and a second microporous surface opposite said first surface in communication with said first surface via said pores; circulating a quantity of moving hygroscopic collecting fluid to contact said second surface of said membrane such that water molecules in the ambient atmosphere migrate from the ambient atmosphere to sorption by the collecting fluid via the microporous membrane structure, and wherein the microporous medium is not wet by said collection fluid; and regenerating said collecting medium by removing the sorbed water and returning substantially sorbed water-free collecting medium to the conditioned space.

Claim 6

A method for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising the steps of: exposing the ambient atmosphere to a first surface of a microporous vapor exchange medium having a first microporous surface disposed to be exposed to the ambient atmosphere from which an amount of water vapor is to be removed and a second microporous surface opposite said first surface in communication with said first surface via said pores; circulating a quantity of moving hygroscopic collecting fluid to contact said second surface of said membrane such that water molecules in the ambient atmosphere migrate from the ambient atmosphere to sorption by the collecting fluid via the microporous membrane structure, and wherein the microporous medium is not wet by said collection fluid; and regenerating said collecting medium by removing the sorbed water and returning substantially sorbed water-free collecting medium to the conditioned space.

Claim 8

A system for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising; a plurality of microporous hollow fibers disposed in parallel spaced relation to form a fiber bundle wherein each such fiber is characterized by a radial microporous matrix structure and a hollow central axial capillary thereby creating an exterior and interior surface for each fiber; a quantity of moving hygroscopic collecting fluid flowing in contact with either the interior or the exterior surfaces of the fibers of said fiber bundle in relative motion thereto such that water molecules migrate from the ambient atmosphere to sorption by the collecting fluid via the microporous matrix structure; means for regenerating said collecting medium by removing sorbed water from the collecting medium without returning the sorbed water to the conditioned space; and means for circulating said collecting fluid between said microporous exchange medium and said regeneration means.

Claim 9

A system for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising; a plurality of microporous hollow fibers disposed in parallel spaced relation to form a fiber bundle wherein each such fiber is characterized by a radial microporous matrix structure and a hollow central axial capillary thereby creating an exterior and interior surface for each fiber; a quantity of moving hygroscopic collecting fluid flowing in contact with either the interior or the exterior surfaces of the fibers of said fiber bundle in relative motion thereto such that water molecules migrate from the ambient atmosphere to sorption by the collecting fluid via the microporous matrix structure; means for regenerating said collecting medium by removing sorbed water from the collecting medium without returning the sorbed water to the conditioned space; and means for circulating said collecting fluid between said microporous exchange medium and said regeneration means.