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US 5,632,805 AGranted
Semipermeable membrane dryer for air compressor system
AssigneeNewport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
InventorMichael K. Woodard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved system for producing dry, high pressure air uses a semipermeable membrane dehydrator to remove water vapor from compressed air between two stages of compression in a multistage air compressor.
Claims10
An improved system for the production of dry, high pressure air comprising:
- a source of wet feed air;
- an air compressor having a plurality of compression stages;
- a means for dehydrating high pressure air;
- said means for dehydrating located between at least two of said plurality of compression stages;
- and
- said means for dehydrating comprising a semipermeable membrane dehydrator capable of permeating moisture in said wet feed air.
3 more elements
An improved system for the production of dry, high pressure air comprising:
- a source of wet feed air;
- an air compressor having a plurality of compression stages;
- a means for dehydrating high pressure air;
- said means for dehydrating located between at least two of said plurality of compression stages, said means for dehydrating comprising a semipermeable membrane dehydrator having a design pressure limit, said semipermeable membrane dehydrator capable of permeating moisture in said wet feed air, said semipermeable membrane dehydrator being located after a compression stage which produces a discharge duty air stream at a pressure less than said design pressure limit of said semipermeable membrane;
- a plurality of coalescing filters for removing water droplets and particulate matter from said wet feed air, said filters being located on the upstream side of said semipermeable membrane dehydrator;
- and
- at least one air cooler for receiving compressed air from at least one compression stage of said plurality of compression stages, said at least one air cooler being located upstream of said coalescing filters.
4 more elements
An improved system for the production of dry, high pressure air comprising:
- a source of wet feed air;
- an air compressor having a plurality of compression stages;
- a means for dehydrating high pressure air;
- said means for dehydrating located between at least two of said plurality of compression stages, said means for dehydrating comprising a semipermeable membrane dehydrator capable of permeating moisture in said wet feed air, said semipermeable membrane dehydrator having a design pressure limit, said semipermeable membrane dehydrator being located after a compression stage which produces a discharge duty air stream at a pressure less than said design pressure limit of said semipermeable membrane, said semipermeable membrane dehydrator being located between a third stage and a fourth stage of said plurality of compression stages;
- a plurality of coalescing filters for removing water droplets and particulate matter from said wet feed air, said filters being located on the upstream side of said semipermeable membrane dehydrator;
- and
- at least one air cooler for receiving compressed air from at least one compression stage of said plurality of compression stages, said at least one air cooler being located upstream of said coalescing filters.
4 more elements
An improved system for the production of dry, high pressure air comprising:
- a source of wet feed air;
- an air compressor having a plurality of compression stages;
- a means for dehydrating high pressure air;
- said means for dehydrating located between at least two of said plurality of compression stages, said means for dehydrating comprising a semipermeable membrane dehydrator capable of permeating moisture in said wet feed air, said semipermeable membrane dehydrator having a design pressure limit, said design pressure limit being at least 1000 psig, said semipermeable membrane dehydrator being located after a compression stage which produces a discharge duty air stream at a pressure less than said design pressure limit of said semipermeable membrane;
- a plurality of coalescing filters for removing water droplets and particulate matter from said wet feed air, said filters being located on the upstream side of said semipermeable membrane dehydrator;
- and
- at least one air cooler for receiving compressed air from at least one compression stage of said plurality of compression stages, said at least one air cooler being located upstream of said coalescing filters.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.