Liquid Heating Devices and Methods of Use

Abstract

Liquid heating devices and methods of use are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, devices include a heating element and a surface area interactive material contacting the heating element, the surface area interactive material having approximately zero surface tension interaction with a liquid which is passed through the surface area interactive material, the surface area interactive material conducting heat from the heating element into the liquid to raise a temperature of the liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a heating element;   a wick contacting the heating element, the wick comprising a surface area interactive material;   means for introducing a liquid into contact with the wick, the liquid contacting the wick at a surface tension contact angle that is approximately less than five degrees; and   the heating element transferring heat into the wick to raise a temperature of the liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface area interactive material comprises a glass fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface area interactive material is selected from any of fused quartz wool, fused silica wool, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element and the wick are disposed around a tubular mesh support, the heating element forming a concentric ring around the tubular mesh support so as to create an annular space there between, the wick being disposed within the annular space. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the means for introducing the liquid comprises a pump that delivers the liquid into the wick. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the means for introducing the liquid comprises perforations in the heating element. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the liquid is raised to as to convert the liquid to a gas phase. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a vessel that receives the heating element and the wick, the vessel having an inlet and an outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein when a dry gas is received in the inlet and liquid is received through a second inlet, the liquid is converted into the gas phase, the dry gas mixing with the gas phase of the liquid and exiting the outlet of the vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the vessel further comprises a tubular mesh support, the heating element and the wick being disposed around an outer surface of the tubular mesh support, further wherein the dry gas filters through the heating element and the wick, passing through pores in the tubular mesh support and mixing with the gas phase of the liquid, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the tubular mesh support. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element and the wick are disposed within a tubular mesh support, the wick forming a concentric ring around the tubular mesh support and the heating element forming a second concentric ring around the wick. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is perforated to allow liquid to enter the device in an evenly distributed manner. 
     
     
         13 . A device, comprising:
 a heating element; and   a surface area interactive material contacting the heating element, the surface area interactive material having approximately zero surface tension interaction with a liquid which is passed through the surface area interactive material, the surface area interactive material conducting heat from the heating element into the liquid to raise a temperature of the liquid.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , further wherein the surface area interactive material comprises fused quartz wool. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the device comprises alternating sections of the heating element and the surface area interactive material arranged into a substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a porous support tube, the surface area interactive material wrapped around the porous support tube, and the heating element surrounding the surface area interactive material. 
     
     
         17 . A device, comprising:
 a vessel having a hollow chamber, a water inlet, and a gas outlet; and   a hollow liquid permeable phaser disposed within the hollow chamber in fluid communication with the gas inlet and the gas outlet, arranged along a longitudinal direction of the vessel, the hollow liquid permeable phaser comprising:
 a wick made from fused quartz; 
 at least one water heating element arranged in the longitudinal direction along an interior of the wick; and 
 a support mesh arranged in the longitudinal direction along the interior of the wick. 
   
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a gas inlet. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein when dry gas is pumped into the gas inlet and water is pumped into the water inlet, the hollow liquid permeable phaser converts the water to steam, and the dry gas permeates through the hollow liquid permeable phaser to mix with the steam to humidify the dry gas. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the hollow liquid permeable phaser is disposed within the vessel so as to create an annular space for receiving the dry gas and the water.