CN220310110U - Device for drying compressed gas and compressor installation - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a compressor device for drying compressed gas. The device has a dryer inlet (2) and a dryer outlet (3), wherein the device (1) comprises: at least two containers (4A, 4B) containing therein a regenerable desiccant (5); and a controllable valve system (8) comprising a first valve group (9A) connecting the dryer inlet (2) to the inlet (6) of the containers (4A, 4B) and a second valve group (9B) connecting the dryer outlet (3) to the outlet (7) of the containers (4A, 4B), wherein the valve system (8) is such that always at least one container (4B) is being regenerated while the other containers (4A) are drying compressed gas, wherein the containers (4A, 4B) are continuously regenerated by controlling the valve system (8), characterized in that each container (4A, 4B) is provided with an inlet (11) for regeneration gas, wherein the device (1) is provided with a blower (23) for supplying ambient air as regeneration gas.

Description

Device for drying compressed gas and compressor installation

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a device for drying compressed gas.

More specifically, the present utility model is directed to drying compressed gas from a compressor.

Background

Such devices, also known as dryers, are known which comprise two or more separate containers, each containing a quantity of regenerable drying agent or desiccant, wherein the containers are each operated alternatively and alternately to dry the compressed gas by passing the compressed gas to be dried therethrough and regenerating it, wherein the drying agent is regenerated by contact with a hot gas (also known as regeneration gas).

Regeneration herein refers to a process in which moisture absorbed or adsorbed in a desiccant is removed by contacting the moisture saturated or near saturated desiccant with a regeneration gas that will remove moisture from the desiccant. The desiccant can then be used again for drying.

The switching between the two vessels can be done by means of suitable lines and valve systems.

Devices are known in which a portion of the dry compressed gas is branched off via a regeneration line and used as regeneration gas.

A heater is typically placed in this regeneration line for heating the regeneration gas.

Although less regeneration gas is required by heating the regeneration gas and thus less loss of dry compressed gas, this arrangement has some drawbacks.

First, the heater will not only heat the regeneration gas, but also, due to losses, the ambient air, and thus indirectly the vessel, which is of course undesirable for vessels that are not to be regenerated.

Due to the losses, the heater must also be operated at a higher temperature in order to obtain a regeneration gas at a sufficiently high temperature, or more regeneration gas will have to be split to ensure that the desiccant is adequately regenerated within an acceptable period of time.

In addition, this regeneration gas is discharged after passing through the vessel, which means loss of compressed gas after drying.

Dryers are also known in which the heater is placed in the vessel, rather than in the regeneration line.

The advantage is that heat loss from the heater will end up in the vessel being regenerated, i.e. just where this heat is needed and useful.

The disadvantage of these dryers is still that the dry compressed gas is used as regeneration gas.

Thus, some of the efficiency of regenerating the desiccant is lost.

Although this type of dryer successfully dries the compressed gas in a satisfactory manner, the consumption of the dried compressed gas as a regeneration gas is too high to be considered effective.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present utility model to provide a solution for solving the above and other drawbacks.

The utility model relates to a device for drying compressed gas, said device having a dryer inlet for compressed gas to be dried and a dryer outlet for dried compressed gas, wherein the device comprises: at least two containers containing therein a regenerable desiccant; and a controllable valve system comprising two valve groups, a first valve group connecting the dryer inlet to the inlet of the container and a second valve group connecting the dryer outlet to the outlet of the container, wherein the valve system is such that always at least one container is being regenerated while the other containers are drying compressed gas, wherein each container is in turn continuously regenerated by controlling the valve system, characterized in that each container is provided with an inlet for regeneration gas, which is physically different from the inlet and the outlet, and that a regeneration line is connected to the inlet for supplying regeneration gas to the container being regenerated, wherein the regeneration line extends at least partly into the container via the regeneration gas inlet, wherein a heater located in the regeneration line is provided in the container for heating regeneration gas before regeneration gas passes through the desiccant in the container being regenerated, wherein the device is further provided with a discharge line for discharging regeneration gas after regeneration gas has passed through the container being regenerated, wherein the discharge line is connected to the container system via the inlet, wherein the device is provided with a blower for supplying ambient air as a valve.

The advantage is that for regeneration, the compressed dry gas is not split off and then discharged.

This means that all the compressed gas to be dried is effectively dried and that all the dried compressed gas can be supplied to the end user.

An additional advantage is that by using a blower, ambient air can be inhaled as regeneration gas.

Further, by means of the blower, the flow rate of the regeneration gas can be controlled by simply controlling the flow rate of the blower.

This allows the rate of regeneration of the desiccant to be controlled by increasing the blower flow if better regeneration of the desiccant is desired.

Since the vessel is provided with separate outlets for the dried compressed gas, an inlet for the gas to be dried and an inlet for the regeneration gas and the cooling gas, this has the advantage that the freedom of choosing the inlet and inlet positions in the vessel is greater. This is important because the heater for the regeneration gas is located in the vessel.

The flexible choice of this location ensures that the gas to be dried as well as the regeneration gas and the cooling gas always pass through the entire drying agent, which increases the efficiency of the drying process, the regeneration process and the cooling process.

Preferably, an intermediate module is arranged between each container and the first valve group, said intermediate module having a first channel for the gas to be dried and a second channel for the regeneration gas, the first channel being connected to the inlet of the respective container and to the first valve group, the second channel being connected to said inlet for the regeneration gas in the container, wherein said channel for the regeneration gas is part of a regeneration line.

An advantage of such an intermediate module is that it increases the modularity of the dryer, so that one or more additional containers can be easily added, since in such an intermediate module the necessary connections can be provided for the gas to be dried, the regeneration gas and optionally the cooling gas.

According to a preferred feature of the utility model the container is formed from extruded profiles.

This has the advantage that the container can be produced in a simpler and cheaper way than an evaporator, which may or may not provide insulation along the inner and/or outer sides of the extruded profile.

It is obvious that the utility model is not limited thereto and that the container can also be manufactured in different ways.

Providing insulation on the inside and/or outside of the extruded profile will significantly increase efficiency, as less heat exchange with the environment will occur.

In a first practical embodiment, the regeneration lines converge into a common regeneration line, the blower outlet being connected to the common regeneration line.

In this case, the blower will blow ambient air through the container being regenerated.

In a second practical embodiment, the blower inlet is connected to the discharge line.

In this case, the blower will draw in ambient air that will first flow through the container being regenerated before passing through the blower.

The utility model also relates to a compressor installation provided with a compressor having an inlet for gas to be compressed and an outlet with a pressure line for compressed gas, characterized in that the compressor installation is provided with a device according to the foregoing for drying a flow of compressed gas supplied by the compressor, which compressed gas is passed through the device for supplying dry gas to a user network via a dryer outlet of the device, wherein for this purpose the pressure line is connected to the dryer inlet of the device.

The advantages of such a compressor device are similar to those of the device according to the utility model.

Drawings

In order to better demonstrate the features of the utility model, some preferred embodiments of the device for drying compressed gas and of the compressor installation provided with such a device according to the utility model are described below by way of example without any limiting features, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 schematically shows an apparatus according to the utility model for drying compressed gas according to the dry air cooling and pressure regeneration principle;

FIG. 2 shows a variation of FIG. 1 according to the principles of dry air cooling and vacuum regeneration;

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an apparatus according to the present utility model for drying compressed gas according to the principles of blower air open loop cooling and pressure regeneration;

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 3, but in a different position;

fig. 5 shows a variant of fig. 3 according to the same principle;

FIG. 6 shows a second variation of FIG. 3 according to the blower air open loop cooling and vacuum regeneration principles;

FIG. 7 shows a second alternative embodiment of an apparatus according to the present utility model for drying compressed gas according to the principles of blower air closed loop cooling and vacuum regeneration;

FIG. 8 shows a variation of FIG. 7 according to the blower air closed loop cooling and pressure regeneration principles;

fig. 9 shows a third alternative embodiment of the device according to the utility model for drying compressed gas according to the principles of dry air pressure cooling and dry air pressure regeneration;

FIG. 10 shows a variation of FIG. 9 according to the principles of dry air vacuum cooling and dry air vacuum regeneration;

fig. 11 shows a second variant of fig. 9 according to the principles of dry air pressure cooling and dry air vacuum regeneration.

Detailed Description

The device 1 for drying compressed gas, which is schematically shown in fig. 1, comprises a dryer inlet 2 for compressed gas to be dried and a dryer outlet 3 for dried compressed gas.

The device 1 is provided with two containers 4a,4b containing a regenerable desiccant 5.

However, for the present utility model, it is not excluded that the device 1 comprises more than two containers 4a, 4b. For example, the device 1 may also comprise four, six, eight or ten containers.

Each container 4a,4b is provided with an inlet 6 for gas and an outlet 7 for gas.

Furthermore, the device 1 is provided with a valve system 8.

In this case, the valve system 8 comprises two valve blocks 9a, 9b, namely a first valve block 9a connecting the dryer inlet 2 to the inlet 6 of the containers 4a,4b and a second valve block 9b connecting the dryer outlet 3 to the outlet 7 of the containers 4a, 4b.

In this case, the first valve group 9a is provided with two 3/2 valves 10.

The valve system 8 is such that always one vessel 4b is being regenerated while the other vessel 4a is drying the compressed gas. For more than two containers 4a,4b, there will always be at least one container being regenerated while the other containers are being dried.

The vessels 4a,4b are each continuously regenerated in sequence by controlling the valve system 8.

Furthermore, in this case, it will be the case that the valve system 8 is such that at least one vessel 4b is always being regenerated and subsequently cooled, while the other vessels 4a dry the compressed gas, wherein by controlling the valve system 8 the vessels 4a,4b are each sequentially regenerated and cooled in turn. However, this cooling step is not necessary for the present utility model.

According to the utility model, each vessel 4a,4b is provided with an inlet 11 for regeneration gas, to which a regeneration line 12 is connected for supplying regeneration gas to the vessel 4a,4b being regenerated.

In this case, an intermediate module 13 is provided between each container 4a,4b and the first valve group 9a, said intermediate module having a first channel 14 for the gas to be dried, which is connected to the inlet 6 of the respective container 4a,4b and to the first valve group 9a, and a second channel 15 for the regeneration gas, which is connected to said inlet 11 for the regeneration gas in the container 4a,4b, wherein said second channel 15 for the regeneration gas is part of the regeneration line 12.

For each vessel 4a,4b, a separate regeneration line 12 is provided.

In this case, a controllable valve or check valve 16 is provided in the regeneration line 12. The check valve 16 allows gas to flow into the containers 4a,4b through the input port 11 and prevents gas from escaping from the containers 4a,4b through the input port 11.

The regeneration line 12 extends at least in part 12a into the vessel 4a,4b via an inlet 11 for regeneration gas.

Heaters 17a, 17b are provided in the vessels 4a,4b, which are located in the regeneration line 12, more specifically in the portion 12a of the regeneration line 12, for heating the regeneration gas before it is fed through the desiccant 5 into the vessel 4b being regenerated.

As is clear from the figures, the containers 4a,4b are provided with a free space 18 along one of their ends, which free space does not contain the desiccant 5. The free end 19 of the regeneration conduit 12 is located in this free space 18.

This ensures that the regeneration air can flow freely and unimpeded in the container 4b.

In this case, the free space 18 is realized by a grid 20, which is held at a distance from the ends of the containers 4a,4b by springs 21. The mesh 20 is permeable to gas but impermeable to the desiccant 5.

The device 1 is also provided with a discharge line 22 for discharging the regeneration gas after it has passed through the vessel 4b being regenerated.

The discharge line 22 is connected to the inlet 6 of said containers 4a,4b via a valve system 8, more specifically a first valve group 9 a.

The device 1 is also provided with a blower 23 for supplying ambient air as regeneration gas.

In this case, the regeneration lines 12 converge into a common regeneration line 12 to which the blower outlet 24 is connected.

Also in this case, the device 1 is provided with a branch line 25. In this case, two such branch lines 25 are provided.

Through branch line 25, part of the compressed drying gas may be branched off at dryer outlet 3. This split gas serves as a cooling gas, which will be explained later.

One end of a branch line 25 is connected to the dryer outlet 3, and the branch line 25 is connected at its other end to the corresponding regeneration line 12 at a position between the inlet 11 and the controllable valve or check valve 16.

An expansion device 26 is provided in the branch line 25 for expanding the dried compressed gas before it enters the vessel 4b being cooled at this time via the input port 11.

Since the containers 4a,4b are provided with separate outlets 7, inlets 6 for the gas to be dried and inlets 11 for the regeneration gas and the cooling gas, this has the advantage that there is a greater degree of freedom in determining the position of the inlets 6 and the inlets 11 in the containers 4a, 4b.

As shown in fig. 1, the flexible choice of this location ensures that the gas to be dried as well as the regeneration gas and the cooling gas all pass through the entire desiccant at all times, which increases the efficiency of the drying process, regeneration process and cooling process.

As shown in fig. 1, the operation of the device 1 is very simple and as follows.

During operation of the device 1, compressed gas to be dried will be supplied via the dryer inlet 2. The gas is conveyed via the first valve block 9a and the first channel 14 of the intermediate module 13 to the container 4a to be dried, in fig. 1 the left container 4a.

The gas will be dried when passing through the container 4a, whereby the desiccant 5 in the container 4a will absorb moisture from the gas.

The dried compressed gas may leave the device 1 through the second valve block 9b and the dryer outlet 3 and may be delivered to the end user.

At the same time, another vessel 4b (in fig. 1, a straight vessel 4 b) will be regenerated in a first stage, in which the drying agent 5 is dried by means of a regeneration gas.

To this end, the blower 23 will suck in ambient air and deliver it via the regeneration line 12 to the container 4b being regenerated.

The sucked ambient air cannot flow to the container 4a being dried because the pressure of the sucked ambient air is too low to open the check valve 16 against the pressure of the container 4a being dried or because the adjustable valve 16 in the regeneration line 12 is closed.

When the sucked ambient air enters the portion 12a of the regeneration line 12 extending into the vessel 4b, it will be heated by the heater 17b which is currently on.

This heated ambient air will flow through the container 4b as regeneration gas, thereby removing moisture from the desiccant 5.

The regeneration gas then leaves the device 1 via the first channel 14 of the intermediate module 13 and the first valve group 9a via the discharge line 22.

After this first stage, the container 4b is cooled. For this purpose, a small portion of the dried compressed gas is branched off via the corresponding branch line 25 and expanded, so that it is cooled.

Via the regeneration line 12, this cool or cold cooling gas ends in the container 4b, in which it will extract heat from the drying agent 5. Thereby, the heater 17b is turned off.

Subsequently, this cooling gas also leaves the device 1 via the first channel 14 of the intermediate module 13 and the first valve group 9a via the discharge line 22.

Fig. 2 shows a variant of fig. 1, in which in this case the blower inlet 31 is connected to the discharge line 22. The device 1 is further provided with an exhaust port 27 for cooling gas, wherein said exhaust port 27 is connected to the inlet 6 of the containers 4a,4b via the first valve group 9 a.

The operation of the device 1 from fig. 2 is very similar to the operation of the device 1 from fig. 1.

In this case regeneration gas will be sucked via the blower 23, wherein ambient air enters the device 1 via the regeneration line 12 by the suction effect of the blower 23 and is then sucked via the container 4b and the first valve group 9a to the discharge line 22 and the blower 23.

This regeneration principle is also called vacuum regeneration. The regeneration principle in fig. 1 is called pressure regeneration.

It should be noted that for the embodiment of fig. 1, vacuum regeneration may be achieved by simply reversing the blower 23, with the blower inlet 31 connected to the regeneration line 12. Similarly, in the embodiment of fig. 2, pressure regeneration may be achieved by reversing the blower 23, with the blower outlet 23 connected to the discharge line 22.

Returning to the embodiment of fig. 2, in this case, in order to cool the container 4b, the cooling gas will leave the device 1 after passing through the whole device via said exhaust 27 instead of via the exhaust line 22.

To achieve this, a closable valve 28 is provided in the discharge line 22 between the blower 23 and the first valve block 9a, which valve is closed during the cooling phase, so that the cooling gas escapes via the exhaust port 27.

The alternative embodiment shown in fig. 3 differs from that of fig. 1 in that there is no branch line 25. Furthermore, the check valve 16 in the regeneration line 12 has been replaced by a closable valve 28.

The greatest difference in this embodiment is that ambient air will now be used as cooling gas instead of the split dried compressed gas. This is elucidated below. The cooling principle of this embodiment is based on the blower air principle, wherein ambient air supplied by the blower is used for cooling, whereas the cooling principle of the first two embodiments follows the dry air cooling principle, wherein the dried compressed gas is used for cooling.

For this purpose, the device 1 is provided with valve means 29 which allow to connect said blower 23 to the device 1 in various ways. Fig. 3 and 4 show two positions of the valve device 29.

Fig. 3 shows the position of the valve arrangement 29, wherein the blower outlet 24 is connected to the regeneration line 12 for supplying regeneration gas to the vessel 4b being regenerated, while the discharge line 22 is connected to the exhaust port 27 for regeneration gas.

In this position, the right side vessel 4b will be regenerated, wherein regeneration gas is sucked in by the blower 23 via the regeneration line 12 and the open closable valve 28 and is entering the vessel 4b. As in the previous embodiments of fig. 1 and 2, the heater 17b will be turned on to heat the regeneration gas.

After passing this vessel 4b, the regeneration gas will leave the device 1 via said exhaust port 27 via the first channel 14 of the intermediate module 13, the first valve block 9a, the exhaust line 22 and the valve means 29.

Fig. 4 shows the position of the valve means 29, wherein the blower outlet 24 is connected to the discharge line 22 for supplying cooling gas to the container 4b being cooled, while the regeneration line 12 is connected to said exhaust port 27 for cooling gas.

In this position, the right-hand container 4b will be cooled, wherein the cooling gas is sucked in by the blower 23 and ends in the container 4b via the discharge line 22 and the first valve group 9 a. As in the previous embodiment of fig. 1 and 2, the heater 17b will be turned off.

After passing through the vessel 4b, the cooling gas will leave the device 1 along said exhaust port 27 via the regeneration line 12 and the corresponding closable valve 28 or valve means 29 that are opened.

In fig. 3 and 4, the valve device 29 is provided with a four-way valve 30. It is however evident that the utility model is not limited thereto and that the valve means 29 can be implemented in many different ways as long as it can fulfil the functions described above.

By way of example and without any limiting features, fig. 5 shows a variation of fig. 3, in which case the valve system 8 comprises a plurality of closable valves 28.

It should be noted that in the embodiments of fig. 3, 4 and 5, the vacuum regeneration principle may be applied by reversing the blower 23, connecting the blower inlet 31 to the regeneration line 12 or the discharge line 22. It should be noted that in the embodiments discussed below, reversing the blower 23 is also possible.

In the embodiments of fig. 3-5, regeneration is achieved by pressure regeneration. Fig. 6 shows a variant of fig. 3, in which regeneration is effected by vacuum regeneration.

For this purpose, the device 1 is provided with valve means 29 which allow to connect the blower inlet 31 to the discharge line 22 for sucking in regeneration gas through the vessel 4b being regenerated, or to connect the blower outlet 24 to the discharge line 22 for supplying cooling gas to the vessel 4b being cooled.

As is clear from this figure, during regeneration the blower 23 will suck in ambient air, which will be sucked up to the blower 23 via the regeneration line 12, the container 4b being regenerated, the first valve group 9a and the discharge line 22, and will leave the device 1 via the blower outlet 24. Here too, the heater 17b in the corresponding container 4b will be switched on.

In another position of the valve device 29 (not shown in the figures, but very similar to the embodiment of fig. 3 and 4), the blower 23 will be able to suck in ambient air as cooling gas, which ambient air will flow into the container 4b being cooled via the discharge line 22 and the first valve group 9a before exiting the device 1 via the discharge line 22. In this case, the heater 17b will be turned off. This principle is called open loop cooling.

Fig. 7 shows a second alternative embodiment of the device 1 according to the utility model, which differs from fig. 6 in that a feedback line 32 is provided, which extends from the blower inlet 31 to a point on the regeneration line 12, so that when the blower outlet 24 is connected to the discharge line 22 for supplying cooling gas to the vessel 4b being cooled, a closed circuit for cooling gas is formed, comprising the regeneration line 12, the feedback line 32 and the discharge line 22, wherein in this feedback line 32 a closable valve 28 and a cooler 33 for cooling the regeneration gas are provided.

In this case, during regeneration, the regeneration gas will follow the same path as described in fig. 6. The closable valve 28 in the feedback line 32 will then be closed and the heater 17b in the corresponding vessel 4b being regenerated will also be switched on.

As described above with respect to the cooling of the container 4b, the cooling gas sucked by the blower 23 after regeneration will now pass through a closed path through the device 1.

Instead of continuously sucking in new ambient air as cooling gas as is the case in fig. 6, the cooling gas will now be reused or recycled, wherein after passing through the container 4b the cooling gas is cooled in the feedback line 32 before being returned to the container 4b by the blower 23. This principle is called closed loop cooling.

This has the advantage that by not continuously sucking in fresh or new ambient air, additional humidity which is inevitably present in the ambient air is not continuously introduced into the container 4b.

Fig. 8 is a variation of fig. 7, in which the cooling gas passes through a closed path as in this case. The difference is that in fig. 7, regeneration is performed by the vacuum regeneration principle, whereas in fig. 8, regeneration is performed by pressure regeneration as shown in fig. 3.

For this purpose, the valve arrangement 29 as shown in fig. 3 is changed and provided with a check valve 16, which check valve prevents gas from leaving the device 1 via the exhaust port 27 when the valve arrangement 29 connects the regeneration line 12 to said exhaust port 27, and wherein the device 1 is provided with a feedback line 32 extending from the blower inlet 31 to a point on the regeneration line 12, such that when the blower outlet 24 is connected to the exhaust line 22 for supplying cooling gas to the vessel 4b being cooled, a closed circuit for cooling gas is formed comprising the regeneration line 12, the feedback line 32 and the exhaust line 22, wherein in this feedback line 32 a closable valve 28 and a cooler 33 for cooling the regeneration gas are provided.

For regeneration, the blower 23 will draw in ambient air, which eventually may enter the regeneration line 12 and the vessel 4b being regenerated through the check valve 16, as is the case in fig. 3.

For cooling, the ambient air sucked in by the blower 23 will be able to circulate through the device 1 due to the feedback line 32, as is the case in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a third alternative embodiment, which is very similar to the embodiment of fig. 3, and in which the device 1 is additionally provided with an evaporator 34 filled with a regenerable desiccant 5, which evaporator is comprised between the regeneration line 12 and the valve device 29, so that the regeneration gas has to pass through the evaporator 34 before being heated when the blower outlet 24 is connected to the regeneration line 12 via the valve device 29, and so that the cooling gas has to pass through the evaporator 34 when the regeneration line 12 is connected to the exhaust port 27.

An advantage of this third alternative embodiment is that all moisture in the ambient air will be extracted by the desiccant 5 in the evaporator 34, so that regeneration can be accomplished with completely dry ambient air. This ensures more efficient regeneration.

An additional advantage is that the heating intensity of the ambient air does not need to be so high that the heaters 17a, 17b can be set to a lower temperature and at least temporarily use less energy.

Typically, this temperature decrease will be, for example, 30 ℃ to 40 ℃ compared to known devices.

Therefore, it is also possible to install the heater 17a, 17b with a lower connection power, since less heating capacity will be required.

Preferably, the internal volume of the evaporator 34 is at most 1/3 or at most 1/4 of the internal volume of one of the at least two containers 4a, 4b.

The preferred maximum size of the evaporator 34 will depend on the expected environmental parameters.

If the relative humidity is 100%, the internal volume of the evaporator 34 is preferably 1/3 of the internal volume of the containers 4a, 4b.

If the relative humidity is 70%, the internal volume of the evaporator 34 is preferably 1/4 of the internal volume of the containers 4a, 4b.

This volume of evaporator 34 provides sufficient desiccant 5 to properly perform or effectuate the drying and regeneration processes described below.

During regeneration, the regeneration gas sucked by the blower 23 will pass through said evaporator 34 and thus be dried, as a result of which the regeneration of the container 4b will be optimally and effectively performed. The regeneration of vessel 4b is further described in fig. 3.

Furthermore, during regeneration, the desiccant 5 from the evaporator 34 will become saturated with moisture from the ambient air.

During cooling of the container 4b, ambient air sucked in by the blower 23 will leave the device 1 after passing through the container 4b being cooled, after passing through the evaporator 34. The cooling of the container 4b is further described with respect to fig. 4.

After passing through the container 4b being cooled, the cooling gas is heated and the desiccant 5 will thus be regenerated in the evaporator 34.

The heat will be temporarily stored in the evaporator 34, which means that the evaporator 34 is heated.

When regenerating the containers 4a,4b in a subsequent stage, the ambient air sucked by the blower 23 will not only be dried by the evaporator 34, but will also be heated for a period of time.

This means that the evaporator 34 can again dry the regeneration gas in a subsequent stage.

Typically, this will amount to an increase of 10 ℃ compared to the known device.

Fig. 10 is a variation of fig. 9. Wherein fig. 9 relates to pressure regeneration and also to pressure cooling for cooling, as the blower 23 pushes the sucked in ambient air through the device 1, and fig. 10 relates to vacuum regeneration and also to vacuum cooling, wherein the blower 23 sucks in ambient air via the device 1. In other words, air drawn in by the blower 23 has passed through the device 1 before flowing through the blower 23.

To achieve this, a number of changes are made to the device 1, more specifically to the orientation of the blower 23 and the valve device 29.

These variations essentially mean that the valve means 29 allow:

connecting a blower inlet 31 to the discharge line 22 for supplying regeneration gas to the vessel 4b being regenerated, while connecting the regeneration line 12 to a suction opening 35 for regeneration gas; or (b)

A blower inlet 31 is connected to the regeneration line 12 for supplying cooling gas to the container 4b being cooled, while a discharge line 22 is connected to said suction opening 35 for said cooling gas.

Furthermore, the modification comprises including an evaporator 34 between the regeneration line 12 and the valve device 29, such that when the blower inlet 31 is connected to the discharge line 22 through the valve device 29, the regeneration gas has to pass through the evaporator 34 before reaching the vessel 4a,4b to be regenerated, such that when the blower inlet 31 is connected to the regeneration line 12 through the valve device 29, the cooling gas has to pass through the evaporator 34 before leaving the device 1.

Regeneration and cooling proceeds similarly to fig. 9.

Fig. 11 shows a second variant of fig. 9, which is closely related to the embodiment of fig. 6. Basically, the evaporator 34 in fig. 9 has been added to the variant of fig. 6.

For this purpose, the evaporator 34 is connected to the regeneration line 12, so that the supplied regeneration gas has to pass through the evaporator 34 when the blower inlet 31 is connected to the discharge line 22, and so that the cooling gas has to pass through the evaporator 34 to leave the device 1 when the blower outlet 24 is connected to the discharge line 22.

In this case, regeneration is based on the vacuum regeneration principle and cooling is based on the pressure cooling principle.

Regeneration and cooling is achieved in a very similar manner as in fig. 6. The principle of drying the ambient air of the evaporator 34 by the cooling gas and regenerating the desiccant 5 in the evaporator 34 is the same as described in fig. 9 and 10.

As can be seen in the figures, the containers 4a and 4b are each equipped with a temperature sensor 36. These temperature sensors 36 will measure the temperature of the regeneration gas. During regeneration of a container 4a or 4b, the respective heater 17a, 17b in that container 4a or 4b will be turned on. The heater 17a, 17b will be turned on or off until the temperature sensor 36 measures the desired temperature.

The utility model is in no way limited to the embodiments described by way of example and shown in the figures, but the device for drying compressed gas and the compressor installation provided with such a device according to the utility model can be realized in all kinds of forms and dimensions without departing from the scope of the utility model.

Claims (18)

1. An apparatus for drying compressed gas having a dryer inlet for compressed gas to be dried and a dryer outlet for dried compressed gas, wherein the apparatus for drying compressed gas comprises: at least two containers containing a regenerable desiccant therein; and a controllable valve system comprising two valve groups, a first valve group and a second valve group, the first valve group connecting the dryer inlet to the inlet of the vessel, the second valve group connecting the dryer outlet to the outlet of the vessel, wherein the controllable valve system is such that at least one vessel is always being regenerated while the other vessels are drying compressed gas, wherein by controlling the controllable valve system the vessels are each successively regenerated in sequence, characterized in that each vessel is provided with an inlet for regeneration gas, which inlet is physically different from the inlet of the vessel and the outlet of the vessel, wherein a regeneration line is connected to the inlet for supplying regeneration gas to the vessel being regenerated, wherein the regeneration line extends at least partly into the vessel via the inlet, wherein a heater is arranged in the regeneration line for heating the regeneration gas before the regeneration gas passes through a drying agent in the vessel being regenerated, wherein a drying device is arranged in the regeneration gas has been arranged as an ambient air supply for the regeneration gas, and wherein a blower is arranged for discharging the regeneration gas from the regeneration line via the regeneration line.

2. An arrangement for drying compressed gas according to claim 1, characterized in that an intermediate module is provided between each container and the first valve group, the intermediate module having a first channel for the gas to be dried, which first channel is connected to the inlet of the respective container and the first valve group, and a second channel for the regeneration gas, which second channel is connected to the inlet for the regeneration gas in the container, wherein the second channel for the regeneration gas is part of the regeneration line.

3. Device for drying compressed gas according to claim 1, characterized in that the container is formed by an extruded profile, which container is provided or not provided with insulation along the inner and/or outer side of the extruded profile.

4. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to claim 1, wherein the regeneration lines converge into a common regeneration line to which a blower outlet or a blower inlet is connected.

5. A device for drying compressed gas according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the blower inlet or blower outlet is connected to a discharge line.

6. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a controllable valve or a check valve is provided in the regeneration line.

7. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the controllable valve system is such that always at least one vessel is regenerated and subsequently cooled while the other vessels dry the compressed gas, wherein by controlling the controllable valve system the vessels are each successively regenerated and cooled in turn.

8. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to claim 7, wherein a controllable valve or a check valve is provided in the regeneration line, the apparatus for drying compressed gas comprising a branch line for branching off compressed dry gas at the dryer outlet of the apparatus for drying compressed gas, wherein the branch line is connected to the regeneration line at a point between the inlet of the vessel and the controllable valve or check valve provided in the regeneration line, wherein an expansion means is provided in the branch line for expanding the dried compressed gas before it enters the vessel being cooled as cooling gas through the inlet.

9. The device for drying compressed gas according to claim 7, characterized in that the regeneration lines converge into a common regeneration line, to which a blower outlet or a blower inlet is connected, the device for drying compressed gas being provided with valve means allowing:

-connecting a blower outlet or a blower inlet, respectively, to the regeneration line for supplying regeneration gas to the vessel being regenerated, while connecting a discharge line to a vent for the regeneration gas; or (b)

-connecting a blower outlet or a blower inlet, respectively, to the discharge line for supplying cooling gas to the vessel being cooled, while connecting the regeneration line to an exhaust port for the cooling gas.

10. An arrangement for drying compressed gas according to claim 7, characterized in that a blower inlet or a blower outlet is connected to a discharge line, the arrangement for drying compressed gas being provided with valve means allowing the blower inlet to be connected to the discharge line for sucking in regeneration gas through a vessel being regenerated or allowing the blower outlet to be connected to the discharge line for supplying cooling gas to a vessel being cooled.

11. The device for drying compressed gas according to claim 9, characterized in that the valve device is provided with a check valve, which check valve prevents gas from leaving the device for drying compressed gas via the exhaust port when the valve device connects the regeneration line to the exhaust port, and in that the device for drying compressed gas is provided with a feedback line, which extends from the blower inlet to a point on the regeneration line, such that when the blower outlet is connected to the exhaust line for supplying cooling gas to the vessel being cooled, a closed circuit for cooling gas is formed comprising the regeneration line, the feedback line and the exhaust line, wherein a closable valve and a cooler for cooling the regeneration gas are provided in the feedback line.

12. Device for drying compressed gas according to claim 10, characterized in that the device for drying compressed gas is provided with a feedback line extending from the blower inlet to a point on the regeneration line, such that when the blower outlet is connected to the discharge line for supplying cooling gas to the vessel being cooled, a closed circuit for cooling gas is formed comprising the regeneration line, the feedback line and the discharge line, wherein a closable valve and a cooler for cooling regeneration gas are provided in the feedback line.

13. Device for drying compressed gas according to claim 9, characterized in that the device for drying compressed gas is provided with an evaporator filled with a regenerable desiccant, which evaporator is included between the regeneration line and the valve device, such that the regeneration gas has to pass through the evaporator when a blower outlet is connected to the regeneration line through the valve device, and such that the cooling gas has to pass through the evaporator when the regeneration line is connected to the exhaust port.

14. Device for drying compressed gas according to claim 10, characterized in that the device for drying compressed gas is provided with an evaporator filled with a regenerable desiccant, which evaporator is connected to the regeneration line such that the supplied regeneration gas has to pass through the evaporator when a blower inlet is connected to the discharge line and such that cooling gas has to pass through the evaporator to leave the device for drying compressed gas when a blower outlet is connected to the discharge line.

15. The device for drying compressed gas according to claim 7, characterized in that the regeneration lines converge into a common regeneration line, to which a blower outlet or a blower inlet is connected, the device for drying compressed gas being provided with valve means allowing:

-connecting a blower inlet to a discharge line for supplying regeneration gas to a vessel being regenerated, while connecting the regeneration line to a suction opening for the regeneration gas; or (b)

-connecting a blower inlet to the regeneration line for supplying cooling gas to a vessel being cooled, while connecting the discharge line to the suction opening for the cooling gas; wherein the means for drying compressed gas is provided with an evaporator filled with a regenerable desiccant, the evaporator being comprised between the regeneration line and the valve means such that the regeneration gas has to pass through the evaporator when the blower inlet is connected to the discharge line through the valve means and such that the cooling gas has to pass through the evaporator before exiting the means for drying compressed gas when the blower inlet is connected to the regeneration line through the valve means.

16. Device for drying compressed gas according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the valve device comprises a four-way valve and/or the valve device comprises a plurality of closable valves.

17. Device for drying compressed gas according to any one of the preceding claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the internal volume of the evaporator is at most 1/3 or at most 1/4 of the internal volume of one of the at least two containers.

18. Compressor installation provided with a compressor having an inlet for the gas to be compressed and an outlet with a pressure line for the compressed gas, characterized in that the compressor installation is provided with a device for drying compressed gas according to any one of the preceding claims for drying a flow of compressed gas supplied by the compressor, which compressed gas is supplied by the device for drying compressed gas to a user network via a dryer outlet of the device for drying compressed gas, wherein for this purpose the pressure line is connected to a dryer inlet of the device for drying compressed gas.