Regenerative vapor condenser

Means for removing a condensable vapor from a pressurized mixture of said vapor and another gas, said means comprising the combination of:

• A) two similar systems operative alternately in cooling and heating cycles such that when one of said systems is in a cooling cycle, the other is in a heating cycle,
• B) each system comprising a regenerator and an associated phase separator,
• C) each regenerator having first and second openings spaced by heat exchange means,
• D) each phase separator having first, second, and third openings,
• E) said combination also comprising supplemental cooling means, storage means, and valve means,
• F) said valve means being selectively operative for connecting said first opening of each regenerator during its cooling cycle with said pressurized mixture and for connecting said first opening of each regenerator during its heating cycle with vent means,
• G) each regenerator during its cooling cycle comprising
• a) means for conducting said mixture in the direction from its first to its second opening in heat exchange relation with its heat exchange means for cooling said gas and condensing said vapor, whereby warming of its heat exchange means from an initial cold temperature to the temperature of the incoming mixture gradually progresses in the said direction from adjacent to said first opening, and
• b) means for discharging the cooled gas and vapor condensate from its second opening,
• H) each phase separator during its cooling cycle comprising
• a) means for receiving said cooled gas and condensate at its first opening,
• b) means for conduction said condensate through its second opening to said storage means, and
• c) means for discharging the cooled gas and uncondensed vapor through its third opening,
• I) said supplemental cooling means communicating with the third opening of both phase separators comprising
• a) means for receiving the cooled gas and any uncondensed vapor discharged through the third opening of the phase separator in its cooling cycle,
• b) means for cooling and condensing said uncondensed vapor and for cooling the remaining cooled gas therein essentially to said initial cold temperature,
• c) means for conducting the condensate of said uncondensed vapor to said storage means, and
• d) means for discharging said remaining gas to the third opening of the phase separator in the heating cycle,
• J) each phase separator during its warming cycle comprising means for receiving through its third opening said remaining gas from said supplemental cooling means and conducting said remaining gas through its first opening to the second opening of the regenerator in the warming cycle,
• K) each regenerator during its warming cycle comprising means for conducting said remaining gas in the direction from its second opening to its first opening in heat exchange relation with its heat exchange means, whereby cooling of its heat exchange means to said initial temperature of said remaining gas gradually progresses in the last named direction from adjacent to its second opening.