The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 04, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 16, 2002
Kang P. Lee, Sudbury, MA (US);
Aspen Systems, Inc., Marlborough, MA (US);
Abstract
A method is described for enhancing mass and heat transport of fluids in a fine pore structure through an appropriate modulation of the fluid pressure. For example, in an air drying process for a porous material that contains liquid, the air pressure is modulated throughout the volume of the drying chamber. Alternatively, the fluid pressure is modulated in a process stream. As an example, this method can be used for rapid drying of any open porous substances ranging from small pored materials such as aerogels and xerogels, to larger pored substances or articles such as industrial articles, agricultural articles (e.g., densely stacked vegetables, coffee beans, hops and other grains), paper-based products, thin films, pharmaceuticals, cloth, and clothing.