Air drying device for a pneumatic system

A compressed air system, comprising:

• a compressor;
• a dehumidifier filled with a drying agent;
• a first conduit connecting said compressor to said dehumidifier;
• a second conduit connecting said pressure tank to said dehumidifier;
• a first valve connected to said dehumidifier, said first valve having a first position in which said dehumidifier is open to the atmosphere and a second position in which said dehumidifier is closed to the atmosphere;
• a control unit for recording the quantity of air which is compressed by said compressor, and for recording data when said first valve is in the open position, where by said control unit can estimate the degree of wetting of said drying agent using said recorded data;
• a second valve connected to said dehumidifier and controlled by said control unit, said second valve having a first position in which said first valve is set in the open position when said pressure tank reaches a predetermined level and a second position in which said first valve is set in the open position when said degree of wetting of said drying agent has reached a predetermined level independent of said pressure in said pressure tank;
• and
• a third valve connected between said dehumidifier and said pressure tank and controlled by said control unit, wherein said third valve is set in an open position to allow air to flow from said pressure tank to said dehumidifier to dry said drying agent.

A method for the regeneration of a drying agent in a compressed air system, the method comprising a compressor, a pressure tank, a dehumidifier filled with a drying agent, a first conduit connected between said compressor and said dehumidifier, a second conduit connected between said pressure tank and the dehumidifier, a first valve connected to said dehumidifier, said first valve having an open position in which said dehumidifier is open to the atmosphere and a closed position in which said dehumidifier is closed to the atmosphere, a second valve connected to said dehumidifier, a third valve connected between the dehumidifier and the pressure tank, and a control unit for recording the quantity of air which is compressed by said compressor, said method comprising

• recording data in said control unit when said first valve is in the open position, and estimating the degree of wetting of said drying agent using said recorded data;
• sensing the wetting degree of said drying agent using said control unit, controlling said second valve using said control unit;
• setting said second valve to a first position, when said first valve is set in an open position when said pressure tank reaches a predetermined level;
• setting said second valve to a second position when said first valve is set in the open position, when said degree of wetting of said drying agent has reached a predetermined level independent of said pressure in said pressure tank;
• and
• opening said third valve to allow air to flow from said pressure tank to said dehumidifier to dry said drying agent.

A method for the regeneration of a drying agent in a compressed air device comprising a compressor, a pressure tank, a dehumidifier filled with a drying agent, a first conduit connected between said compressor and said dehumidifier, a second conduit connected between said pressure tank and said dehumidifier, a first valve connected to said dehumidifier, said first valve having a open position in which said dehumidifier is open to the atmosphere and a closed position in which said dehumidifier is closed to the atmosphere, a second valve connected to said dehumidifier, and a control unit for recording the quantity of air which is compressed by said compressor, said method comprising:

• recording data when said first valve is in the open position, and estimating the degree of wetting of said drying agent using said recorded data;
• sensing the wetting degree of said drying agent using said control unit controlling said second valve using said control unit;
• setting said second valve to a first position, when said first valve is set in a open position when said pressure tank reaches a predetermined level;
• and
• setting said second valve to a second position when said first valve is set in the open position, when said degree of wetting of said drying agent has reached a predetermined level independent of said pressure in said pressure tank.