Liquid transport membrane

Abstract

A liquid transport membrane includes a porous layer having conductive electrodes on the opposite surfaces. The electrodes are arranged so as to induce an electric field across the membrane when a driving voltage is applied to the electrodes. The conductive electrodes each include a thin conductive layer which is coated onto the porous layer and an additional layer to improve the distribution of electricity.

1 . A liquid transport membrane, including a porous layer having conductive electrodes on the opposite surfaces arranged as to induce an electric field across the membrane when a driving voltage is applied to said electrodes, wherein the conductive electrodes each comprise a thin conductive layer which is coated on to the porous layer and an additional layer to improve the distribution of electricity. 
     
     
         2 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the thin conductive layers are porous electrode layers coated on opposite surfaces of the porous layer, and wherein each additional conductive layer is in electric contact with the porous electrode layers. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the thin conductive layers are each a thin film realized by physical vapour deposition (PVD) or chemical vapour deposition (CVD). 
     
     
         4 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 1 , wherein said additional layers include a plurality of conductive interwoven wires or fibres as to form a conductive fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 1 , wherein said additional layers include a plurality of conductive wires or fibres embroidered in a woven or non-woven fabric layer. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 1 , wherein said additional layers are a fabric layer coated by a conductive coating and put in contact with the conductive faces of the electroosmotic membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 1 , wherein said additional layers include a plurality of conductive interwoven wires or fibres glued or sandwiched between the membrane and under a laminated textile layer. 
     
     
         8 . A liquid transport membrane, including a porous layer having conductive electrodes on the opposite surfaces arranged as to induce liquid transport across the membrane when a driving voltage is applied to said electrodes the liquid transport membrane comprising a measuring circuit, connected to part of said electrodes, the measuring circuit being arranged to measure an electric characteristic that is dependent on the moisture content and comprising a control circuit arranged to change the driving voltage dependent on the moisture content derived from said measuring circuit. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 8  wherein the measuring circuit is arranged to measure resistance, capacitance, impedance or relaxation time. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 8 , wherein the electrodes connected to said measuring circuit are on opposite sides of the porous membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 8 , wherein the electrodes connected to said measuring circuit are a grid of electrodes on one side of the membrane. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 8 , wherein areas of the membrane are imprinted or coated with a substance having a determined dependence of impedance on humidity. 
     
     
         14 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 1 , wherein each additional layer is a conductive mesh. 
     
     
         25 . The liquid transport membrane of  claim 13  wherein the substance is Nafion®.