EP0888166A1 - Systeme pour secher et purifier l'air - Google Patents

Systeme pour secher et purifier l'air

Info

Publication number
EP0888166A1
EP0888166A1 EP97906946A EP97906946A EP0888166A1 EP 0888166 A1 EP0888166 A1 EP 0888166A1 EP 97906946 A EP97906946 A EP 97906946A EP 97906946 A EP97906946 A EP 97906946A EP 0888166 A1 EP0888166 A1 EP 0888166A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compressed air
chamber
separator chamber
drying
outlet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97906946A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0888166A4 (fr
Inventor
Erasmo Mimmo Bellomo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AP Systems Australia Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
AP Systems Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AP Systems Australia Pty Ltd filed Critical AP Systems Australia Pty Ltd
Publication of EP0888166A1 publication Critical patent/EP0888166A1/fr
Publication of EP0888166A4 publication Critical patent/EP0888166A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D45/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces
    • B01D45/12—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D50/00—Combinations of methods or devices for separating particles from gases or vapours
    • B01D50/20—Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/26—Drying gases or vapours

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air drying and purification system for compressed air and to a compressor incorporating the air drying and purification system.
  • compressor is understood herein to include oil-free and oil compressors.
  • an air drying and purification system for compressed air from a compressor comprising, a separator chamber for at least partially drying and purifying compressed air from the compressor by separating moisture and entrained particulate material and other contaminants from the compressed air, the separator chamber having:
  • an adjustable valve member for controlling the flow of compressed air from the separator chamber via the outlet.
  • the impact zone defined by the contact section enables effective separation of water vapour and entrained particulate material and other contaminants from the compressed air.
  • contaminants may include oil vapour.
  • the adjustable valve member enables effective control of the pressure conditions within the separator chamber.
  • valve member enables adjustment of the flow of compressed air through the separator chamber to be matched to that of a given compressor output to minimise the pressure drop between the inlet and the outlet of the separator chamber.
  • the separator chamber comprises a vertically disposed cylindrical side wall and upper and lower end walls. It is preferred particularly that the compressed air inlet be located in an upper section of the side wall.
  • the compressed air outlet be in the upper end wall.
  • the separator chamber comprises a cylindrical partition which extends downwardly into the separator chamber from the upper end wall and terminates at a lower end that is below the level of the compressed air inlet, the partition thereby dividing an upper region of the separator chamber into an outer annular section and a central cylindrical section.
  • the lower end of the partition defines an opening to the central section.
  • compressed air circulates downwardly through the annular section and, via the opening defined by the lower end of the partition, into the central section, and thereafter upwardly through the central section to the compressed air outlet.
  • valve member comprises a head which is movable to selectively close or open the opening to the central section thereby to control the flow of compressed air to the compressed air outlet. It is preferred that the head be supported for vertical movement toward and away from the opening.
  • the head be formed with an upper surface that is angled with respect to a central vertical axis of the central section so that, in use, movement of the head towards the opening progressively closes the opening.
  • the upper surface taper outwardly and downwardly toward the side wall of the separator chamber.
  • the upper surface define a contact surface for compressed air circulating downwardly from the annular section of the separator chamber.
  • a contact surface further contributes to effective separation of water vapour and entrained particulate matter and other contaminants from the compressed air.
  • the head be an arrow-head profile in vertical section.
  • the system comprises a drying chamber for further drying the compressed air from the separator chamber, the drying chamber containing an absorbent material for absorbing moisture from the compressed air, the drying chamber having an inlet for compressed air, and an outlet for dried and purified compressed air. It is preferred that the system comprises an assembly for ventilating the chambers to regenerate the absorbent material in the drying chamber and to remove contaminants from the separator chamber, the regeneration assembly comprising an inlet for compressed air in the drying chamber, a vent outlet in the separator chamber, and a valve assembly for opening and closing the vent outlet.
  • the regeneration valve assembly be solenoid operated or pneumatic operated.
  • the regeneration value assembly comprises a flow control valve to minimise consumption of compressed air during regeneration and to maintain the dew point of compressed air subsequently processed by the system.
  • system further comprises a storage tank for dried and purified compressed air. It is preferred particularly that the regeneration assembly be connected to the storage tank.
  • the system comprises a first expansion chamber for further drying the compressed air from the separator chamber.
  • the purpose of the first expansion chamber is to allow compressed air from the separator chamber to cool and allow entrained water vapour to condense from the compressed air.
  • compressed air flowing through the separator chamber is heated by virtue of impact with sections of the separator chamber, and the undesirable effect of the heating is to retain water vapour in the compressed air.
  • expansion chamber be between the separator chamber and the drying chamber.
  • the system further comprises a second expansion connected to the first expansion chamber for removing oil from the compressed air from the first expansion chamber.
  • a compressor comprising:
  • Figure 1 is a partially vertical cross-section of a preferred embodiment of an air drying and purification system for an oil-free compressor in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of the separator chamber shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a partially vertical cross-section of a preferred embodiment of an air drying and purification system for an oil compressor in accordance with the present invention.
  • the purpose of the air drying and purification systems shown in the drawings is to dry and purify compressed air from oil-free or oil compressors ⁇ not shown) so that the dried and purified compressed air can be re-used in the compressors.
  • compressed air from an oil-free or an oil compressor is hot, typically
  • the hot compressed air be cooled prior to being supplied to the air drying and purification system.
  • This can be achieved by any suitable means, such as a heat exchanger (not shown) .
  • the air drying and purification system (“the system") shown in the Figures 1 and 2 receives cooled compressed air from an oil-free compressor (not shown) via an inlet line 3 and discharges dried and purified compressed air via an outlet line 5 to a storage tank (not shown) .
  • the system comprises a separator chamber 9 for separating moisture and entrained contaminants, such as particulate material and oil vapour, from the cooled compressed air.
  • the separator chamber 9 is defined by a vertically disposed cylindrical side wall 11, an upper end wall 12, and a lower end wall 14.
  • the separator chamber 9 comprises an inlet 16 for cooled compressed air, an outlet 13 for at least partially dried and purified compressed air in the upper end wall 12, and an outlet 15 for moisture and contaminants separated from the compressed air in the lower end wall 14.
  • the outlet 15 transfers the moisture and contaminants separated from the compressed air into a tapered discharge chamber 17.
  • the separator chamber 9 further comprises a cylindrical partition 21 which divides an upper region of the separator chamber 9 into a central section 23 and an annular section 25.
  • the partition 21 extends downwardly into the separator chamber 9 from the upper end wall 12 and terminates below the level of the inlet 16 and above the lower end wall 14.
  • the lower end of the partition 21 defines an opening 18 to the central section 23.
  • the separator chamber 9 further comprises an adjustable valve member, generally identified by the numeral 6, for controlling the flow of compressed air from the separator chamber 9 via the outlet 13.
  • the principal purpose of the valve member 6 is to enable the flow of compressed air through the separator chamber 9 to be matched to that of the output of a given compressor to minimise the pressure across the separator chamber 9.
  • the valve member 6 comprises a head 61 mounted on a shaft 63 which is received for vertical movement in a sleeve 65 that extends through the lower wall 14 of the separator chamber 9.
  • the head 61 has an arrow-head profile in vertical section, and comprises a tip 66, a conical surface 65 that extends downwardly and outwardly from the tip 66, and a frusto-conical surface 67 that extends downwardly and outwardly from a trailing edge 69 of the conical surface 65.
  • the head 6 further comprises a mounting sleeve 75 which locates the head 61 onto the shaft 63 and frusto-conical undercut surfaces 71, 73 which connect a trailing edge 68 of the conical surface 65 to the mounting sleeve 75.
  • the head 61 is formed so that there is a relatively small annular gap G between the trailing edge 68 of the frusto-conical surface 67 and the side wall 11. It can readily be appreciated that vertical movement of the head 61 progressively opens or closes the annular opening 18 to the central section 23. In this connection, in the preferred embodiment the vertical position of the valve member 6 is adjusted manually.
  • the shaft 63 of the valve member 6 and the support sleeve 65 are screw threaded, and the lower end of the shaft 63 is formed to receive a tip of a screw driver.
  • the valve member 6 can be adjusted manually prior to connection to a compressor by disconnecting temporarily the discharge chamber 17 from the separator chamber 9 to allow access to the lower end of the shaft 63.
  • section 7 of the partition 21 and the conical and frusto-conical surfaces 65, 67 of the head 61 of the valve member 6 define impact zones which are effective means of separating moisture and entrained contaminants from the compressed air.
  • the applicant has found in extensive experimental work that the contact of compressed air with the section 7 can remove up to 60% of the entrained moisture according to the psychrometric humidity chart.
  • the moisture and entrained contaminants drop downwardly through the gap G and the outlet 15 into the discharge chamber 17. It is noted that the upwardly angled surface of the frusto-conical undercut 71 inhibits reverse flow of water vapour and contaminants into the separator chamber 9.
  • the system further comprises expansion chamber 30 connected to the compressed air outlet 13 for drying compressed air from the separator chamber 9.
  • the expansion chamber 30 is provided to allow compressed air flowing from the separator chamber 9 via the outlet 13, which is heated due to impacts in the separator chamber 9, to expand and cool and thereby allow water vapour retained in the compressed air to condense from the compressed air.
  • the system further comprises a chamber 29 connected to the expansion chamber 30 for absorbing any remaining moisture retained in the compressed air.
  • the drying chamber 29 is defined by an essentially elongate cylindrical column 31 which has:
  • the drying chamber 29 further comprises a bed 43 of granular molecular sieve material, such as Rhone- Poulenc molecular sieve 13X, or other suitable material, substantially filling the cylindrical column 31.
  • granular molecular sieve material such as Rhone- Poulenc molecular sieve 13X, or other suitable material
  • the system further comprises an assembly for ventilating the system periodically.
  • the ventilation system comprises an inlet 81 for compressed air in an upper section of the drying chamber 29 and an outlet 19 at a lower end of the discharge chamber 17.
  • the inlet 81 is connected to the compressed air storage tank (not shown) . It can readily be appreciated that, in use, compressed air flowing from the storage tank through the inlet 81 flows into the drying chamber 29 and downwardly through expansion chamber 30, the separator chamber 9 and the discharge chamber 17 to the outlet 19. In such a situation, with the system isolated (with the compressed air inlet 16 in the separator chamber 9 and the compressed air outlet 35 in the drying chamber 29 closed) , moisture and contaminants in the drying chamber 29, the expansion chamber 30, the separator chamber 9, and the discharge chamber 17 are flushed from the system via the outlet 19.
  • the preferred embodiment of the system for an oil compressor comprises an identical separator chamber 9 and an identical expansion chamber 30 to those of the preferred embodiment for an oil-free compressor shown in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the system for an oil compressor further comprises a second expansion chamber 61 connected to the expansion chamber 30 for separating oil from the compressed air flowing from the expansion chamber 30.
  • the second expansion chamber 61 is defined by an essentially elongate cylindrical column 31 which has:
  • the effect of the turbulent flow is to cause oil contained in the compressed air to be forced against the side wall of the second expansion chamber 61 and retained on the side wall.
  • the separation of oil from the compressed air is enhanced by further cooling of the compressed air as it flows through the second separation chamber.
  • the system further comprises a drying chamber 71 containing a bed of granular molecular sieve material connected to the second separation chamber 61 for absorbing any remaining moisture retained in the compressed air.
  • system further comprises an assembly for ventilating the system periodically.
  • the ventilation system is similar to that of the system for an oil-free compressor shown in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the ventilation system comprises an inlet 91 for compressed air in an upper section of the drying chamber 71 and the outlet 19 at the lower end of the discharge chamber 17.
  • compressed air flowing through the inlet 91 flows successively through the drying chamber 71, the second expansion chamber 61, the expansion chamber 30, the separator chamber 9 and the discharge chamber 17 to the outlet 19.
  • the compressed air flow flushes moisture and contaminants in the various chambers and retained on the various filters from the system via the outlet 19.
  • the section 7 of the partition 21 forms the impact zone that faces the compressed air inlet 16 to the separator chamber 9
  • the present invention is not limited to such an arrangement and the impact zone may be formed from any suitable means.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Drying Of Gases (AREA)
  • Compressor (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système pour sécher et purifier l'air comprimé d'un compresseur. Le système de séchage et de purification de l'air comprend une chambre de séparation pour sécher et purifier, au moins partiellement, l'air comprimé du compresseur, en séparant de l'air comprimé l'humidité et les particules de matériau entraînées, ainsi que d'autres contaminants. La chambre de séparation a une entrée pour l'air comprimé; une surface de contact faisant face à l'entrée et formant une zone d'impact pour séparer l'humidité et les particules entraînées, ainsi que d'autres contaminants, de l'air comprimé entrant dans la chambre de séparation, par l'entrée; une sortie pour l'air comprimé au moins partiellement séché et purifié; et un élément de soupape ajustable pour contrôler le flux d'air comprimé passant par la sortie de la chambre de séparation.
EP97906946A 1996-03-13 1997-03-13 Systeme pour secher et purifier l'air Withdrawn EP0888166A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPN8655/96 1996-03-13
AUPN8655A AUPN865596A0 (en) 1996-03-13 1996-03-13 Air drying and purification system
PCT/AU1997/000170 WO1997033679A1 (fr) 1996-03-13 1997-03-13 Systeme pour secher et purifier l'air

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0888166A1 true EP0888166A1 (fr) 1999-01-07
EP0888166A4 EP0888166A4 (fr) 2000-01-19

Family

ID=3792968

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97906946A Withdrawn EP0888166A4 (fr) 1996-03-13 1997-03-13 Systeme pour secher et purifier l'air

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0888166A4 (fr)
AU (1) AUPN865596A0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997033679A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19827296A1 (de) * 1998-06-19 1999-12-23 Mann & Hummel Filter Vorrichtung zur Abscheidung von Flüssigkeiten aus Gasen

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4087263A (en) * 1976-02-09 1978-05-02 E. Schonmann & Co., Ag. Separator system for steam supplied apparatus
US4867767A (en) * 1985-09-17 1989-09-19 Tlv Co., Ltd. Condensate separating and discharging device with a specially dimensioned trap section
US5145495A (en) * 1991-06-13 1992-09-08 Allied-Signal Inc. Air dryer purge cycle timing control
WO1994027706A1 (fr) * 1993-05-26 1994-12-08 A.P. Systems (Australia) Pty. Ltd. Systeme de sechage et de purification d'air comprime

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4036609A (en) * 1971-10-18 1977-07-19 Pircon Ladislav J Endless belt impingement apparatus and method
US4120670A (en) * 1975-11-17 1978-10-17 Pircon Ladislav J Pollution control apparatus and method
US4187088A (en) * 1979-01-18 1980-02-05 Maloney-Crawford Corporation Down flow centrifugal separator
US4349360A (en) * 1980-09-18 1982-09-14 Shell Oil Company Fluid treating column and apparatus for treating mixtures of liquid and gas
DE3105676A1 (de) * 1981-02-17 1982-09-02 Krupp-Koppers Gmbh, 4300 Essen Prallabscheider fuer staubbeladene gase
NZ221309A (en) * 1986-08-19 1989-12-21 Antonio Sola Separation of vapor and liquid components of a chemical agent introduced to a compressed air supply system
US4822387A (en) * 1987-10-22 1989-04-18 Reading Technologies, Inc. Inverse flow depth filter assembly
AU3536393A (en) * 1993-03-19 1994-09-29 Lorenzo Lauriola Beach towel
JP3769034B2 (ja) * 1994-01-24 2006-04-19 松下エコシステムズ株式会社 水滴の分離装置

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4087263A (en) * 1976-02-09 1978-05-02 E. Schonmann & Co., Ag. Separator system for steam supplied apparatus
US4867767A (en) * 1985-09-17 1989-09-19 Tlv Co., Ltd. Condensate separating and discharging device with a specially dimensioned trap section
US5145495A (en) * 1991-06-13 1992-09-08 Allied-Signal Inc. Air dryer purge cycle timing control
WO1994027706A1 (fr) * 1993-05-26 1994-12-08 A.P. Systems (Australia) Pty. Ltd. Systeme de sechage et de purification d'air comprime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9733679A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0888166A4 (fr) 2000-01-19
WO1997033679A1 (fr) 1997-09-18
AUPN865596A0 (en) 1996-04-04

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