A condensate drain
AssigneeSpirax-Sarco Limited
InventorsJeremy Miller, Brian Chu, Kevin Rushbrooke, Simon Geuley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed a condensate drain (10), comprising: a body (12) defining a drain chamber (30) having a liquid-gas inlet (16) and a liquid outlet (24); and a porous membrane (14) having a pore size of about 0.2 μm or less disposed within the body (12) between the liquid-gas inlet 16 and the liquid outlet (24); wherein in use, the porous membrane (14) permits liquid to pass therethrough but restricts the passage of gas.
Claims24
A compressed gas installation comprising a compressed gas system and a condensate drain, the condensate drain comprising:
- a body defining a drain chamber and having:
- a liquid-gas inlet coupled to the compressed gas system to receive condensate into the drain chamber;
- and
- a liquid outlet coupled to a condensate return system of the compressed gas system for collecting condensate;
- and
- a porous membrane disposed within the body between the liquid-gas inlet and the liquid outlet and having:
- an inlet side in fluid communication with the liquid-gas inlet;
- an outlet side in fluid communication with the liquid outlet;
- and
- a plurality of passageways extending from the inlet side to the outlet side, each having a pore size of about 0.2 μm or less;
- wherein in use, the porous membrane permits liquid to pass therethrough but restricts the passage of gas;
- and
- wherein the condensate drain is configured in the compressed gas installation such that, in use, the outlet side of the porous membrane is maintained wetted.
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A method of using a condensate drain that comprises:
- a body defining a drain chamber having a liquid-gas inlet and a liquid outlet;
- and
- a porous membrane disposed within the body between the liquid-gas inlet and the liquid outlet and comprising:
- an inlet side in fluid communication with the liquid-gas inlet;
- an outlet side in fluid communication with the liquid outlet;
- and
- a plurality of passageways extending from the inlet side to the outlet side, each having a pore size of about 0.2 μm or less;
- wherein the method comprises:
- maintaining the outlet side of the porous membrane wetted;
- receiving condensate and gas into the drain chamber through the liquid-gas inlet so that condensate passes through the porous membrane and the passage of gas therethrough is restricted;
- and
- discharging condensate through the liquid outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.