Condenser for dehumidifying gas
AssigneeHydrogenics Corporation
InventorsJoseph Cargnelli, Ravi B. Gopal, Jianming Ye
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A condenser, for cooling a gas flow containing a vapor to promote condensation of the vapor, has a generally cylindrical chamber. Gas is admitted at one end of the chamber and is given a swirl component of velocity. The gas then travels axially along the length of the chamber, and passes radially through poles into the bore of a separator. The swirl velocity of the gas flow tends to through water droplets radially outwards, where they can drain down the inside of a casing defining the chamber. The separator can include a skirt portion separating the main chamber from a water collection compartment. Cooling to cause condensation is provided by an external jacket, preferably having a coolant flowing through it in a helical fashion.
Claims26
A condenser, for cooling vapor contained in a gas flow, the condenser comprising:
- a chamber having a generally circular cross-section about an axis thereof and adapted to be mounted with the axis substantially vertical;
- a gas inlet opening into one end of the chamber, for supply of gas to one end of the chamber, and a gas outlet opening into the chamber, for discharge of gas from the chamber;
- means for imparting a swirl component of velocity to the gas flow supplied to the chamber through the gas inlet and mounted adjacent said one end of the chamber, the arrangement being such that gas flows from one end of the chamber to the other end thereof;
- and
- means for cooling the chamber to thereby remove heat therefrom to promote condensation of the vapor;
- wherein the means from imparting a swirl component of velocity to the gas flow comprises at least one of an arc-shaped gas compartment adjacent the gas inlet and a deflector vane.
A condenser, for cooling vapor contained in a gas flow, the condenser comprising:
- a chamber having a generally circular cross-section about an axis thereof and adapted to be mounted with the axis substantially vertical;
- a gas inlet opening into one, upper end of the chamber, for supply of gas to one end of the chamber, and a gas outlet opening into the chamber, for discharge of gas from the chamber;
- means for imparting a swirl component of velocity to the gas flow supplied to the chamber through the gas inlet and mounted adjacent said one end of the chamber, the arrangement such that gas flows from one end of the chamber to the other end thereof;
- and
- means for cooling the chamber to thereby remove heat therefrom to promote condensation of the vapor;
- wherein the chamber provides for unobstructed downward movement of condensate towards the lower end thereof.
A method of cooling a gas flow containing a vapor, to promote condensation of the vapor, the method comprising the steps of:
- (1) supplying gas containing moisture to a chamber having a generally circular cross-section, applying a swirl component of a velocity to the gas flow and causing the gas to flow axially from one end of the chamber to the other with a helical path including the swirl component of flow;
- (2) cooling the chamber to withdraw heat from the gas and promote condensation of the vapor;
- (3) mounting the chamber substantially vertically, whereby condensed vapor runs vertically down the inside of the chamber;
- (4) withdrawing gas, depleted in the vapor, along the axis of the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.