GB121080A - Method of and Apparatus for Drying, Conditioning and Regulating the Moisture Content of Hygroscopic Materials. - Google Patents

Abstract

121,080. Carrier, W. H., and Carrier Engineering Corporation. May 21, 1918. Chambers. - Relates to a method of and apparatus for drying, conditioning, and regulating the moisture-content of hygroscopic materials in a chamber by an induced circulation of air therethrough. The air is circulated in the chamber in a predetermined path having a mixing-zone and an exhaust zone within the chamber, these zones being so arranged that the greater portion of the air, when it reaches the exhaust zone, is again drawn into the mixing-zone by the introduction into the mixing- zone of a smaller quantity of conditioned air at a high velocity, the air from the exhaust zone becoming mixed with the charge of conditioned air, and the mixture then circulating through the chamber in the predetermined path. As shown, the material B, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is hung on racks 18 in a room or chamber A so as to leave spaces 10, 11, 12 on three sides of the material, and conditioned air at a high velocity is delivered by a fan 17 through a duct 13 which extends along one side near the ceiling and is provided with nozzles 14 through which air is discharged horizontally into the space above the material. An air-exhaust duct 15 extends parallel with and just below the duct 13, and has openings 16 in its bottom adjacent the upper part of the side space 10. The air passes downwards in the space 12 at the back of the chamber, then through the passages 19 between the racks 18, and upwardly in the space 10 to mix again with incoming air in the space 11. Part of the air passes out from the space 10 through the duct 15. The moisturecontent and preferably the temperature of the air delivered into the chamber are varied for controlling the temperature and humidity, or both, in the chamber A. A hygrostat 24 located in the chamber or in the duct 15 controls a motor 25 which operates dampers controlling the connexion between the duct 15 and fan inlet 21, and dampers 23 controlling the fresh-air inlet. A steam jet discharging into the inlet 21 is operated by a diaphragm valve controlled by the hygrostat 24, and the steam or other heater 29 is regulated by a diaphragm valve controlled by a thermostat 31 placed in the chamber A or in the duct 15. In a modification, Fig. 5, the material B is arranged in the chamber A<1> in two portions separated by an intervening free space 10<a> in the middle of the chamber. The air is discharged from the supply nozzles 14<a> through open-ended tubes 32, and the exhaust duct 15<a> is arranged in the space 10<a> at the floor line.