Pressure swing adsorption dryer for pneumatically driven pressure intensifiers
AssigneeLitton Systems, Inc.
InventorsGary N. Byrd, Timothy C. Phillis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention includes two beds of activated alumina or similar material, which can remove moisture during a PSA cycle. One bed is placed in series in each drive air line for the pressure intensifier or boost pump. The beds are sized such that there is sufficient material to adsorb the moisture contained in the volume of gas required to move the drive piston through a complete stroke.
Claims18
A method of drying gas used in a pneumatically driven pressure intensifier, the pressure intensifier having pistons and used in a pressure swing adsorption system, the pressure swing adsorption system, including a pair of molecular sieve beds each connected to a first and a second valve, respectively, the first and the second valves each connected to a source of pressurized gas, the method comprising flowing pressurized gas to opposite sides of the pressure intensifier to position the pressure intensifier pistons;
- flowing pressurized gas through a first activated bed to dry the gas and to pressurize one side of the pressure intensifier to shift the pressure intensifier to a first position and venting gas from the other side of the pressure intensifier through a second activated bed;
- venting gas from the one side of the pressurized bed pressure intensifier through the first activated bed and flowing pressurized gas through the second activated bed to dry the gas and to pressurize the other side of the pressure intensifier to shift the pressure intensifier to a second position.
A drying apparatus for a pressure swing adsorption system including a pair of beds having molecular sieve material each having an inlet and an outlet and a pressure intensifier for increasing the pressure of an enriched product gas, and further including a pneumatic drive cylinder for the pressure intensifier having opposed sides which are alternatively pressurized in order to drive the pressure intensifier, the pair of beds and the pneumatic drive cylinder being coupled to a source of compressed feed air, said drying apparatus, comprising:
- a pair of moisture removing beds each having one port connected to the source of compressed feed air and a second port connected to the pressure intensifier;
- and
- at least one valve means located between the source of compressed feed air and said pair of moisture removing beds;
- wherein the pressure intensifier is alternatively pressurized with feed air via the pair of moisture removing beds.
A pressure swing adsorption system having a pressure intensifier including a drying apparatus, comprising:
- a pair of beds having molecular sieve material, each having an inlet and an outlet;
- a pneumatic drive cylinder for the pressure intensifier having opposed sides which are alternatively pressurized in order to drive the pressure intensifier;
- the pair of beds being disposed in the pneumatic drive cylinder and being coupled to a source of compressed feed air;
- a pair of moisture removing beds each having one port connected to the source of compressed feed air and a second port connected to the pressure intensifier;
- and
- at least one valve means located between the source of compressed feed air and said pair of moisture removing beds;
- wherein the pressure intensifier is alternatively pressurized with feed air via the pair of moisture removing beds.
A drying kit for retrofitting a pressure intensifier used in a pressure swing adsorption system, the pressure intensifier having a first side and a second side, the pressure swing adsorption system having a pair of molecular sieve beds and a first valve connected to a source of pressurized gas and to one of the pair of molecular sieve beds and a second valve connected to the source of pressurized gas and to the other of the pair of molecular sieve beds, said drying kit comprising:
- a first activated bed connectable to the source of pressurized gas and to the first side of the pressure intensifier;
- a second activated bed connectable to the source of pressurized gas and to the second side of the pressure intensifier;
- and
- means for at least one valve to selectively connect said first activated bed to the source of pressurized gas and for to selectively connect said second activated bed to the source of pressurized gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.