A film forming apparatus includes a stage on which a substrate is mounted, a first container configured to accommodate the stage, a gas supply configured to supply gases containing two types of monomers into the first container to form a polymer film on the substrate mounted on the stage, a porous member arranged radially outward from a processing space, which is a space above the substrate, and configured to draw in polymers formed by the gases containing two types of monomers exhausted from the first container, and a heater configured to heat the porous member to a first temperature when the polymer film is formed on the substrate.

A substrate with a pathogen inhibiting treatment. The substrate comprising a first coating of an inorganic material. The inorganic material being applied to the substrate via a vapour deposition process. A second coating applied at an upper surface of the first coating, and wherein the second coating is at least one of a protective coating for the first coating and a functional coating.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing an apparatus (or a plant comprising a plurality of apparatuses), for example a heat exchanger, a vaporizer or a distillation column, for use in a process (in particular a continuously operated process) for concentrating a mineral acid by evaporation of water, wherein the apparatus or the plant comprises (at least) a device which is resistant to the mineral acid and the device is flushed with an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution having a concentration by mass of alkali metal hydroxide in the range from 1% to 30% at a temperature in the range from 40° C. to 90° C. for a time of from 2 hours to 7 days.

A vaporizer includes an outer tube configured to receive a flow of heated gas and an inner tube disposed at least partially within the outer tube. The inner tube is spaced apart from the outer tube such that the flow of heated gas is channeled through an annular space therebetween. The vaporizer also includes a crucible disposed at least partially within the inner tube. The crucible is extendable and retractable relative to the inner tube and within the outer tube. The crucible is configured to hold a molten metal such that a surface area of the molten metal exposed to the flow of heated gas is adjustable based on the position of the crucible relative to the inner tube. A heater is configured to vaporize the molten material and the vapor mixes with the flow of heated gas.

Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, applying heat to the liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.

A vaporization supply apparatus 1 includes a preheating section 2 for preheating a liquid raw material L, a vaporization section 3 provided on top of the preheating section 2 for heating and vaporizing the preheated liquid raw material L sent from the preheating section 2, a flow rate control device 4 provided on top of the vaporization section 3 for controlling the flow rate of a gas G sent from the vaporization section 3, and heaters 5 for heating the preheating section 2, the vaporization section 3 and the flow rate control device 4.

The treatment unit includes an evaporation device including a gas circulation pipe, and a material with a large specific surface filling an evaporation section of the circulation pipe; a device for circulating the gas through the circulation pipe; a liquid impregnating the material with a large specific surface, the liquid containing at least one product or a mixture of volatile biocide and/or phytoprotective products, with a boiling temperature between 130 and 280° C., the material with a large specific surface having a liquid retention capacity greater than 50 L/m.sup.3 of material with a large specific surface at 20° C.; a recharging device, arranged to re-impregnate the material with a large specific surface with liquid or to replace the spent material with a large specific surface with a new material with a large specific surface impregnated with liquid.

Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source to a vaporization port where the vaporization port has lateral dimensions varying from 10 um to 300 um, applying heat to the liquid in the vaporization port with an at least one heating element located in thermal communication to the vaporization port, and releasing vaporized liquid from the vaporization port into the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the depth of the structure.

The invention relates to an apparatus for vapour decontamination of an enclosed space. The apparatus comprises: (a) a reservoir comprising a supply of a liquid decontaminant; and (b) a vaporiser unit in fluid communication with the reservoir. The vaporiser unit comprises: a body that defines a lumen that passes along the length of the body, the lumen comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end receives liquid decontaminant from the reservoir; and a heating element that is configured to deliver sufficient thermal energy to effect rapid boiling of the liquid decontaminant within the lumen so that it exits the lumen via an exit port at the second end of the lumen as a vapour. The exit port is configured to deliver the vapour into a flow of a non-heated carrier gas, thereby facilitating distribution of the decontaminant vapour within the enclosed space. The invention also relates to a method for decontaminating surfaces within an enclosed space.

Methods and apparatus for vaporizing liquid into the surrounding environment, including directing liquid from a liquid source through an inverse-opal wicking structure to a vaporization port where the vaporization port is formed by a through-hole in a structure connecting a first side of the structure to a second side, with all dimensions ranging from 10 um to 300 um, that is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the surrounding environment so that fluid is transported through the vaporization port between the first and the second side. The methods and apparatus includes plurality of heating elements that may be individually and/or selectively addressable by at least three electrode leads.