Back to results
US 6,616,735 B1Granted
Compressed gas systems utilizing a variable pressure membrane air drier, and method of operation thereof
AssigneePorous Media Corporation
InventorsJohn H. Burban, Robert O. Crowder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressed gas system utilizing a membrane air dryer is shown wherein, during unloading, additional sweep gas is provided to the membrane air dryer to prevent excess moisture from being introduced into the accumulator at the end of each unloading cycle. A membrane air drier for use in such system is also described.
Claims21
A compressed gas system comprising:
- a) a compressor having an inlet and an outlet,
- b) an aftercooler having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet of said aftercooler connected to said outlet of said compressor,
- c) a filter having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet of said filter connected to said outlet of said aftercooler,
- d) a coalescer having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet of said coalescer connected to said outlet of said filter,
- e) a membrane air dryer having an inlet, an outlet, a sweep inlet, and a sweep outlet, said inlet of said membrane air dryer connected to the outlet of said coalescer,
- f) a solenoid valve having a solenoid valve inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, said solenoid valve inlet being connected to said membrane air dryer outlet, and said first outlet being connected to said membrane air dryer sweep inlet,
- g) an unload solenoid connected to said solenoid valve to selectively direct flow to either said first outlet or said second outlet,
- h) an accumulator having at least an inlet, said accumulator inlet being connected to said second outlet of said solenoid valve, and
- i) a controller electrically connected to both said accumulator and said unload solenoid to move said solenoid valve between a closed position wherein the inlet of said solenoid valve is in fluid communication with said second outlet of said solenoid valve, thereby causing gas flowing into said inlet of said unload solenoid valve to flow into said accumulator, and an open position wherein the inlet of said solenoid valve is in communication with said first outlet, whereby flowing into said inlet of said unload solenoid valve to flow through said first outlet and into said sweep inlet of said membrane air dryer.
6 more elements
A compressed gas system comprising a membrane air dryer and a solenoid valve, said membrane air dryer comprising:
- a) a shell,
- b) a bundle of hollow fibers sealing mounted within said shell so that the interior of said hollow fibers is blocked from fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow fibers,
- c) a first endcap sealingly mounted at one end of said shell to provide a first plenum adjacent a first end of said bundle of hollow fibers, said first endcap having an inlet in fluid communication with said first plenum,
- d) a second endcap sealingly mounted at one end of said shell to provide a second plenum adjacent a second end of said bundle of hollow fibers, said second endcap having an outlet in fluid communication with said second plenum, and said second plenum being in fluid communication with the interior of said hollow bundle.
- e) a sweep outlet in fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow bundle adjacent said first endcap, and
- f) a sweep inlet in fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow bundle adjacent said second endcap,
- said solenoid valve having an inlet and first and second outlets, said inlet being in fluid communication with said outlet of said second endcap of said membrane air dryer and one of said outlets being in fluid communication with said sweep inlet of said membrane air dryer, said solenoid valve being configured to direct flow to either of said first and second outlets.
4 more elements
A membrane air dryer comprising:
- a) a shell,
- b) a bundle of hollow fibers sealing mounted within said shell so that the interior of said hollow fibers is blocked from fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow fibers.
- c) a first endcap sealingly mounted at one end of said shell to provide a first plenum adjacent a first end of said bundle of hollow fibers, said first endcap having an inlet in fluid communication with said first plenum,
- d) a second endcap sealingly mounted at one end of said shell to provide a second plenum adjacent a second end of said bundle of hollow fibers, said second endcap having an outlet in fluid communication with said second plenum, and said second plenum being in fluid communication with the interior of said hollow bundle,
- e) a sweep air outlet in fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow bundle adjacent said first endcap, and
- f) a sweep inlet in fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow bundle adjacent said second endcap, and
- g) an excess sweep inlet providing fluid communication between an external source of sweep air and the interior of the hollow fiber bundle adjacent said second endcap, and in fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow bundle adjacent said first endcap.
4 more elements
A membrane air dryer comprising:
- a) a shell,
- b) a bundle of hollow fibers scaling mounted within said shell so that the interior of said hollow fibers is blocked from fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow fibers,
- c) a first endcap sealingly mounted at one end of said shell to provide a first plenum adjacent a first end of said bundle of hollow fibers, said first endcap having an inlet in fluid communication with said first plenum,
- d) a second endcap sealingly mounted at one end of said shell to provide a second plenum adjacent a second end of said bundle of hollow fibers, said second endcap having an outlet in fluid communication with said second plenum, and said second plenum being in fluid communication with the interior of said hollow bundle,
- e) a sweep air outlet in fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow bundle adjacent said first endcap.
- f) a sweep inlet in fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow bundle adjacent said second endcap,
- g) an excess sweep inlet providing fluid communication between an external source of sweep air and the interior of the hollow fiber bundle adjacent said second endcap, and a secondary sweep outlet in fluid communication with the exterior of said hollow bundle adjacent said first endcap, and
- h) a solenoid valve, said solenoid valve bet configured to control flow of sweep through said sweep and excess sweep inlets.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.