Regenerative gas dehydrator
AssigneePAI Corporation
InventorYingzhong Lu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention disclosed herein relates to a dehydrator for removing moisture from a gas. The dehydrator has a narrow elongate conduit having an equivalent hydraulic diameter which facilitates the diffusion of water molecules through the gas to a cooled gas contact surface of the conduit. Despite the use of narrow elongate gas flow path, the dehydration efficiency of the apparatus of the invention is outstanding and pluggage of the gas flow path is substantially eliminated.
Claims28
A gas dehydrator for removing moisture from a moisture laden gas which comprises:
- an elongate conduit having an equivalent hydraulic diameter ranging from about 1/20 to about 1/2 inch (about 0.1 to about 1.3 centimeters), an entrance open end and an exit open end and a gas contact surface defining a flow path for the gas through the conduit from the entrance open end to the exit open end;
- and
- means for cooling the gas contact surface to a temperature sufficient to freeze water molecules adjacent the gas contact surface so that ice is deposited on the gas contact surface along the flow path through the conduit.
A method for removing moisture from a gas containing water vapor comprising:
- establishing a turbulent flow of the gas in an elongate conduit having an equivalent hydraulic diameter ranging from about 1/20 to about 1/2 inch (about 0.1 to about 1.3 centimeters), the conduit having an entrance open end and an exit open end for flowing the gas material from the entrance open end to the exit open end and a gas contact surface which is cooled to a temperature below the freezing point of the moisture in the gas;
- and
- removing moisture from the gas while maintaining a temperature of a substantial portion of the gas above the freezing point of the residual moisture in the gas, wherein the gas exiting the conduit from the exit end has a residual moisture level which is below the saturation point of the gas.
A method for removing water vapor from natural gas comprising:
- flowing the natural gas under turbulent flow conditions through an elongate conduit having an equivalent hydraulic diameter ranging from about 1/20 to about 1/2 inch (about 0.1 to about 1.3 centimeters) and a gas contact surface for contact with the gas;
- cooling the gas contact surface with a means for cooling to a temperature below the freezing point of the water vapor in the gas;
- and
- discharging the natural gas from the conduit wherein the discharged natural gas is unsaturated at a temperature within the range of from about -15.degree. to about 40.degree. C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.