Abstract: A membrane gas dryer includes an upstream fitting assembly, a downstream fitting assembly, a purge tube, and a sample element. The upstream fitting assembly and the downstream fitting assembly include fitting bodies and barrier sleeves. The fitting bodies and the barrier sleeves form purge plenums that are in fluid communication with the purge tube. Sealing interfaces on the fitting bodies maintain fluid-tight seals around the purge plenums as the barrier sleeves rotate about fitting bodies. The sample element includes a water-permeable membrane and passes inside the purge tube such that moisture in a sample gas flowing in a downstream direction through the sample element between the fitting body to the downstream fitting body passes moisture through the water-permeable membrane and into a purge gas flowing in the purge tube in one of an upstream direction or a downstream direction between the purge plenums.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a probe assembly comprising a flange assembly, a probe platform, a platform extension, an extension enclosure, and a fluid coupling assembly is provided. The fluid coupling assembly comprises a removable portion and a retained portion. An engaging interface of the retained portion cooperates with an engaging interface of the removable portion such that, with engagement of the removable and retained portions, respective fluid passages of the removable and retained portions form one or more integrated fluid channels configured to permit passage of fluid through the fluid coupling assembly. The probe assembly is configured such that the probe platform, the platform extension, and the removable portion of the fluid coupling assembly are interconnected and are configured to be withdrawn simultaneously from the probe assembly independent of the retained portion of the fluid coupling assembly.

Abstract: A membrane gas dryer includes an upstream fitting assembly, a downstream fitting assembly, a purge tube, and a sample element. The upstream fitting assembly and the downstream fitting assembly include fitting bodies and barrier sleeves. The fitting bodies and the barrier sleeves form purge plenums that are in fluid communication with the purge tube. Sealing interfaces on the fitting bodies maintain fluid-tight seals around the purge plenums as the barrier sleeves rotate about fitting bodies. The sample element includes a water-permeable membrane and passes inside the purge tube such that moisture in a sample gas flowing in a downstream direction through the sample element between the fitting body to the downstream fitting body passes moisture through the water-permeable membrane and into a purge gas flowing in the purge tube in one of an upstream direction or a downstream direction between the purge plenums.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a probe assembly comprising a flange assembly, a probe platform, a platform extension, an extension enclosure, and a fluid coupling assembly is provided. The fluid coupling assembly comprises a removable portion and a retained portion. An engaging interface of the retained portion cooperates with an engaging interface of the removable portion such that, with engagement of the removable and retained portions, respective fluid passages of the removable and retained portions form one or more integrated fluid channels configured to permit passage of fluid through the fluid coupling assembly. The probe assembly is configured such that the probe platform, the platform extension, and the removable portion of the fluid coupling assembly are interconnected and are configured to be withdrawn simultaneously from the probe assembly independent of the retained portion of the fluid coupling assembly.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for separating a particulate-containing gas flow into particulate and substantially non-particulate flow portions is provided. The apparatus comprises a sample gas inlet, a radial separating ring, a separation draw, a separated gas outlet, a bypass eductor, and a bypass gas outlet. The radial separating ring comprises a separating ring gap defined between an inlet ring orifice and an outlet ring orifice, and is positioned such that a sample gas flow moving downstream from the sample gas inlet through the bypass eductor to the bypass gas outlet passes across the separating ring gap. The radial separating ring is configured such that the inlet ring orifice and the outlet ring orifice are relatively large, in relation to the size of the separating ring gap, and are positioned in close proximity to each other along the direction of the sample gas flow.

Abstract: A method of making thin-walled permeable tubing using air blown extrusion, and of using the tubing in a device which enables a substantial humidification or drying of patient breathing gases in the breathing lines for patient monitoring or anesthesia results in cost savings and increased efficiency.

Abstract: A method of making thin-walled permeable tubing using air blown extrusion, and of using the tubing in a device which enables a substantial humidification or drying of patient breathing gases in the breathing lines for patient monitoring or anesthesia results in cost savings and increased efficiency.

Abstract: In humidifying the fuel input to a fuel cell, a stream of dry inlet gas is passed inside the strands of liquid permeable tubes. A stream of hot wet exhaust gas from the fuel cell or hot cooling water from the fuel cell is passed over the outside of the tubing bundle in a counter-current flow direction. Water vapor from the hot wet exhaust gas or liquid water from the hot cooling water is absorbed onto the outside surface of the permeable tubing, permeates through the walls of the tubing, and pervaporates into the dry gas stream inside the tubing. At the same time, heat from the exhaust gas or cooling water is conducted through the tubing walls into the dry gas stream inside. The permeation of water also carries heat with it, increasing the efficiency of heat recovery and transfer into the inlet fuel/oxidant gas.