Flow reversing regenerative air dryer
AssigneeWagner Electric Corporation
InventorArthur R. Grix
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow-reversing, regenerative, desiccant air dryer system absorbs moisture, oil droplets, and carbon particles from the incoming air during compression in a compressed air system. Once sufficient air pressure has been attained in an air pressure reservoir, control valves direct the flow of atmospheric-pressure air, heated by passing through the warm compressor cylinder, in a reverse direction through the air dryer. The reverse flow of heated, atmospheric pressure air both purges the trapped oil, carbon particles, and condensed liquid water and removes the moisture from the desiccant.
Claims5
In an air compressor system of the type wherein an air compressor delivers compressed air through an air dryer to an air pressure reservoir, the reversible-flow regenerative drying system which comprises:
- (a) a pressure container;
- (b) said pressure container having a compressed air inlet, a compressed air outlet, a purge air inlet and a purge air outlet;
- (c) an inner container having sorbent material therein within said pressure container, said inner container being substantially coaxial to and spaced from said pressure container whereby an air space is provided therebetween;
- (d) means for sealing one end of said inner container to said pressure container intermediate said compressed air inlet and outlet;
- (e) the ends of said inner container having means for allowing the passage of air therethrough;
- (f) the purge air inlet adjacent to said compressed outlet;
- (g) said purge air outlet being at the end remote from said purge air inlet whereby purge air is enabled to flow through said sorbent material in a direction the reverse of the flow of the compressed air;
- (h) valve means for opening said purge air outlet;
- and
- (i) a unidirectional valve interposed between said compressed air outlet and said air pressure reservoir.
In a compressed air system of the type wherein an air compressor delivers compressed air through an air dryer to an air pressure reservoir, the reversible-flow regenerative dryer comprising:
- (a) inner and outer containers;
- (b) annular sealing means between said inner and outer containers;
- (c) air passage means below said sealing means between said inner and outer containers;
- (d) heat exchanger means defining the exterior surface of said outer container adjacent to said air passage means;
- (e) tangential air inlet means adapted to directing the flow of incoming air in a tangential direction into said air passage means;
- (f) a sump at the bottom of said outer container in which liquid water, which has been condensed from the air stream, may collect during air compression;
- (g) first and second fibrous filters inside perforated upper and lower ends respectively of said inner container;
- (h) desiccant material filling at least a portion of the volume of said inner container between said first and second fibrous filters;
- (i) a compressed air outlet and a purge air inlet in the top of said outer container above said sealing means;
- (j) a purge valve below said sump, said purge valve being adapted to venting air, liquid water, particulates, oil, and water vapor from the inside of said outer container to the atmosphere when opened;
- (k) a control valve, mechanically connected to said purge valve, said control valve being adapted to opening said purge valve upon receipt therein of a pressure control signal;
- (l) valve means for disconnecting the compressed air from said air compressor to said tangential air inlet and connecting it to said purge air inlet and opening said purge valve upon the attainment of a predetermined air pressure in said air pressure reservoir;
- and
- (m) a unidirectional valve between said compressed air outlet and said air pressure reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.