Back to results
US 8,006,503 B2Granted
Energy recovery system and method for a refrigerated dehumidification process
AssigneeIngersoll-Rand Company
InventorsJames C. Collins, David V. Woodward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas compression system includes a flow of compressed gas, a separator positioned to receive the flow of compressed gas and discharge a second flow of compressed gas and a flow of condensate, and a flow of compressed refrigerant. A heat exchanger is positioned to receive the flow of condensate and the flow of compressed refrigerant. The heat exchanger is arranged such that the flow of condensate cools the flow of refrigerant.
Claims15
A gas compression system comprising:
- a first flow of compressed gas;
- a separator positioned to receive the first flow of compressed gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and operable at that pressure to separate the first flow of compressed gas into a second flow of compressed gas and a flow of condensate at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
- a flow of compressed refrigerant;
- and
- a heat exchanger positioned to receive the flow of condensate and the flow of compressed refrigerant, the heat exchanger arranged such that the flow of condensate cools the flow of refrigerant.
2 more elements
A gas compression system comprising:
- a gas compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed gas;
- a refrigerant compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed refrigerant;
- an evaporator positioned to receive the flow of compressed refrigerant and the flow of compressed gas and arranged to cool the compressed gas;
- a moisture separator positioned to receive the flow of compressed gas from the evaporator and separate the flow into a flow of dry compressed gas and a flow of condensate at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
- and
- a heat exchanger positioned to receive the flow of compressed refrigerant and the flow of condensate at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and arranged to cool the flow of refrigerant with the flow of condensate.
3 more elements
A gas compression system comprising:
- a gas compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed gas;
- a refrigerant compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed refrigerant;
- an evaporator positioned to receive the flow of compressed refrigerant and the flow of compressed gas and arranged to cool the compressed gas;
- a separator positioned to receive the flow of compressed gas from the evaporator and separate the flow into a flow of dry compressed gas and a flow of condensate at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
- a heat exchanger positioned to receive the flow of compressed refrigerant and the flow of condensate at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and arranged to cool the flow of refrigerant with the flow of condensate;
- and
- a condenser positioned to receive the flow of compressed refrigerant and arranged to cool the flow of refrigerant, the heat exchanger and the condenser cooperating to cool the flow of compressed refrigerant to a desired temperature.
4 more elements
A method of drying a flow of compressed gas, the method comprising:
- separating the flow of compressed gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure into a flow of dry compressed gas and a flow of condensate;
- compressing a refrigerant to produce a flow of compressed refrigerant;
- directing the flow of condensate at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure into a thermal exchange relationship with the flow of compressed refrigerant to cool the flow of compressed refrigerant;
- and
- directing the cool compressed refrigerant into a thermal exchange relationship with the flow of compressed gas to cool the flow of compressed gas and separate the second flow of compressed gas and the flow of condensate.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.