System and method for making dry and hydrocarbon-free compressed air
AssigneeGeneron IGS, Inc.
InventorThomas Jeffers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for making dry, hydrocarbon-free compressed air includes a compressor, a membrane drier, and a carbon bed connected in series. A moisture separator may also be included to remove liquid water from the stream. A filter may be placed after the carbon bed to remove residual carbon dust. The output of the system can be connected to operate virtually any pneumatic device, such as a control valve or pneumatically-operated instrument. Because the chemical content of the compressed air is not changed, it remains breathable, and does not create a safety hazard.
Claims15
A system for making dry, hydrocarbon-free compressed air, comprising:
- a) a compressor,
- b) a membrane drier, the membrane drier being connected to receive compressed air from the compressor,
- c) a carbon bed connected to receive dry, compressed air from the membrane drier,
- wherein the carbon bed has an output which comprises a stream of dry, compressed air which is substantially hydrocarbon-free.
A system for operating a pneumatic device, comprising:
- a) a compressor for compressing ambient air,
- b) a moisture separator, connected to the compressor, for removing liquid from compressed air produced by the compressor,
- c) a membrane drier, connected to an output of the moisture separator, for removing water vapor from the compressed air,
- d) a carbon bed, connected to an output of the membrane drier, for removing hydrocarbons from the compressed air,
- e) an output of the carbon bed being connected to a pneumatic device such that compressed, dry, hydrocarbon-free air operates the pneumatic device.
A method of making dry, hydrocarbon-free compressed air, comprising:
- a) compressing ambient air,
- b) passing compressed air made in step (a) through a membrane having selectivity for water vapor, so as to dry the compressed air, and
- c) passing dried compressed air made in step (b) through an adsorbent so as to remove hydrocarbons from said compressed air.
A method of operating a pneumatic device, comprising:
- a) compressing ambient air,
- b) passing compressed air through a membrane drier so as to remove water vapor from the compressed air,
- c) passing compressed air, exiting the membrane drier, through an adsorbent bed so as to remove hydrocarbons from the compressed air, and
- d) using compressed air produced in step (c) to operate a pneumatic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.