GB2267659A

GB2267659A - Air-flow regenerating extractor

Info

Publication number: GB2267659A
Application number: GB9309483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Enrico Serafini
Original assignee: Ama Universal SpA
Current assignee: Ama Universal SpA
Priority date: 1992-06-11
Filing date: 1993-05-07
Publication date: 1993-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-07
Also published as: ITBO920125V0; ITBO920125U1; GB2267659B; IT227882Y1; DE4315285A1; GB9309483D0; DE9306968U1

Abstract

An air-flow regenerating activated carbon extractor with an incorporated heat exchanger, particularly applicable in and suitable for machines and plants for the cleaning by solvents of cloth, textiles and metals, comprises, internally to a container (1) of activated carbon (2), at least one heat exchanging element (3) of a boiler (40) by means of which the evaporation of the solvent from the carbon (2) is obtained. <IMAGE>

Description

2267659 An air-flow regenerating activated carbon extractor with an

incorporated beat exchanger The invention relates to an air-flow regenerating activated carbon extractor with an incorporated heat exchanger, particularly applicable in and suitable for machines and plants for the cleaning by solvents of cloth, textiles and metals.

The use of activated-carbon for the recuperation of solvent from a circulating flow in machines and plants of the above-mentioned type is well established. Substantially the prior art extractors envisage a container of the activated carbon connected to a heat generating SOMCC which heat is sent to the inside of the said container with the aim of obtaining the evaporation and thus the extraction and the recuperation of the previously-absorbed solvent, captured by the carbon, previously crossed by a.

circulating closed-cycle flow, inside the said machines andior plants.

Prior art extractors, because of their structuraj, which materially separates while reciprocally 1 2 connecting the carbon container and the heat generating source (generally constituted by an electric heater) are installed externally to the, machine or plant, its being difficult to locate them among the various equipment and apparatus the said machines and plants.

it has also been noticed that the heat generated to obtain the extraction of the solvent from t% carbon is subject to dispersion, even if the is limitedp before contacting the carbon, with consequent need at least to increase the regeneration time of the carbon in order to arrive at a COMP!Gte extraction of the solvent impregnating it.

An aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing an activated-carbon extractor which substantially, as summarised in the claims that follow, TE, characterised by the fact of comprisingl internally to the carbon container, the heat generating source and the elements through which irradiation of heat through the carbon is achieved, so as to obtain air-flow regeneration.

With this solution. by keeping the dimensions o..i" the carbon container substantially the same 3 (providing the quantity of carbon contained is similar), even if inevitably it will increase in size, a compact extractor has been obtained, easily installable internally to the machines andior dry-cleaning plants of the indicated type and delivering high performancm, Further, by advantageously locating inside the container the elements through which the irradiation of the activated carbon is obtained:, it becomes possible, during the non-functioning phase of the heat generating source, to cause the said elements to be crossed by a cold flow with the aim of lowering the temperature inside the carbon container in order to favour the capturing of the solvent particles circulating inside it during the active phase of the Extractor.

The advantages and characteristics of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent a preferred embodiment here illustrated in the form of a non-limiting example, and in whichg - Figure 1 shows, in a schematic frontal view with, SOME parts represented in section, the extractor of the invention; 4 - Figure 2 shows, in a schematic lateral view, the extractor according to a view from letter A of figure 1; - Figure 3 shows, in a plan view from above, the.

extractor of the preceding figures.

With reference to the figures, the activated---.

carbon extractor is applicable on machines o plants in general (not illustrated herein since of known type and not constituting part of the invention) for dry cleaning with solvents, for example cloth, textiles and metallic productsg this extractor essentially envisages, to a container 1 of the abovw-mentioned activate.-...! carbon 2, introduced into and extracted from the container 1 through respective lateral mouths 18 and 19, a heat exchanger 3 which is constituted (see in particular figures 1 and 2) by a bundle of sealed tubes 30 transversally arranged among themselves. These tubes are internal to a conduit 31 inferlorly connected to a heat source 4.

The said heat exchanger 3 is fed directly from the heat generating source 4 constituted, for example and not Hmitatively, by a boiler 40 comprising a water container 41 connected to the above-- mentioned conduit 31 and equipped internally with, resistance 42p said water container 41 also being located internally to the carbon container 1.

The extractor internally comprises also a duct 9 for the circulation of the solvent fume flow, arriving from the plant, which is to be filtered comprising three portions: a first conduit ICj defining the inlet portion of the flow, which is connected to the inlet of a ventilator group 11.

positioned in the upper part of the container 1, which ventilator group 11 outlet is connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger 3, that is, the.:

bundle of tubes 30; a second conduit 12 open at the point where the fume flow exits the heat exchanger 3 and terminating directly inside the container I; finally there is a third conduit 1,3 made in the upper part of the container 1, open to the inside of the same container 1 and permitting the exit of the extractor flow (the direction of the flow is indicated by the arrows F).

More in detail, the first conduit 10 is equipped with a valve 14 to connect the container chamber with a solvent recuperation circuit 15 (described hereinafter): the said valve 11 is closed during normal functioning of the machine, that is during the normal phase of extraction, and mobile witI i 6 the duct 9 in an open position during a regeneration phase of the carbon 2 actuated by moans of the activation of the boiler 40.

Obviously during the regeneration phase of the carbon 2 there are other valves, not illustrated since part of the machine andior plant of which the extractor is part, which permit the isolationi of the extractor from the rest of the apparatus to allow the regeneration of the carbon 2 within closed cycle, as will be described hereinafter.

Looking at figure 3, it can be seen how in the first and second conduits the inlet 151 and the outlet WU of a solvent recuperation cycle are open (schamatically illustrated in figure 3 since of known type and not forming part of the present invention): the solvent is suspended in the flow IF and circulates inside the extractor; the solvent is extracted from the activated carbon 2 during the activation phase of the boiler 40 by means of a known-type condensing device external to the extractor and being a part of the recuperation circuit of the solvent of the machine (such as for.

example a known-type refrigeration circuit).

Still with reference to figures 1 and 2, the second conduit!E terminates, as above-mentioned, internally to the container 1 of the carbon 2 through an inlet mouth 6 positioned above a bottom element 5, which describes the bottom of the carbon 2 container!c this bottom element 5 is constituted by a net-like structure 7, or in any case a holed structure, arranged below the bollei and used for the passage of the flow F and for the deposit of residues on the bottom of the container 1 where there is a special connecting mouth 3 with the outside for the extraction of the said residues. Analogously, a not structure 7 is also present on the upper part of the container 1 which retains the carbon 2 during the passage of the flow F in the third conduit 13.

The extractor functions in the following way.

During the various working phases of the plant the vapour flow with its solvent fumes enters into the container 1 through the first conduit 10 and, thanks to the ventilator group 11, is channelled into the second conduit 12, then to exit internally to the said container 1 (all of the preceding is done at about external atmospheric temperature). Once in the container 1, the carboy] 2 retains the solvent internally to the container 1 and the residues are deposited on the bottom of the container 1, thanks to the net structure 7 while the remaining flow F is channelled into the third conduit 13 so as to be reconveyed into the plant circuits.

(D5 t.,Jtieii the recuperation of the solvents is desired it is sufficient to open the valve 14 (while the valves of the plant are closed), so as to bring the container 1 into a completely sealed and closed-cycle configuration, and activate the boiler 40 which raises the internal temperature of the container 1 and causes the release of the solvent residues by evaporation from the carbon 2.

The evaporated flow of solvents F! enters the above-mentioned solvent recuperation circuit through the inlet 151 situated in proximity to the first conduit 10 and the solvents are recuperated by means of the condenser 17, while the remaining flow is successively reintroduced to the container 1 through the outlet 15U, while the solvents are raintegrated in the conduits of the plant.

Once the recuperation operation has been carried out, the duct 9 is reopened to permit the normal operative flow to circulate around the extractor.

Advantageously a cooling source (not illustrate:.l hare) can be connectable to the heat exchanger 3, at different times with respect to the heat source 4, to effect a greater cooling action of the incoming operative flow and consequently a general increase in the operative performance of the extractor.

The extractor as it is structured results in very compact structure with a reduced mas'.

considering the devices contained in it, and further provides a considerably high performance both during work phases and solvent recuperation phases.

1

Claims

Claims.

An air-flow ragenerating activated carbon extractor with an incorporated heat exchanger., particularly applicable in and suitable fo- machines and plants for the cleaning by solvents of cloth, textiles and metals, characterised by the fact of having internally to a container (1) of carbon (2) a beat exchanger (3) fad directly b, a heat generating source (4) also housedi.

internally to the said container (1).

An extractor as in claim 1, characterised by the fact of further envisaging at its inside a bottom element (5) delimiting the said activated carbon (2) container (1) and arranged below the said heat generating source (4) and, contemporaneously, below an inlet mouth (6) in the extractor of the circulating flow to be treated and which is to cross the mass of the said carbon (2).

3). An extractor as in claim 2, characterised by the fact that the said bottom element C5) exhibits a 11 substantially net-like structure (7), or at least a holed structure (7) for the passage of the said flow and for the deposit of residues on the bottom of the said container (1) where a mouth WC--, situated for the extraction of the said residues.

An extractor as in claims 1 or 2 or 3, characterised by the fact that it is furthevequipped with a duct C9) for the circulation of the flow to be treated, comprising:

- a first conduit 10 defining the inlet portion of the flow, which is connected to the inlet of a ventilator group 11 positioned in the upper part of the container 1, which ventilator group 11. outlet is connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger 3; - a second conduit 12 open at the point where the fume flow exits the heat exchanger 3 and terminating directly inside the container!g - a third conduit 13 made in the upper part of the..- container 1, open to the inside of the same: container 1 and permitting the exit of the extractor flow.

An extractor as in claim 4P characterised by the 1 1 fact that on the first said conduit (10) a valve (14? is located, which valve (14Y connects the said container (1) with a solvent recuperation circuit (15% which valve (14) is normally closed during the extracting phase and open and mobile during a regeneration phase of the said carbon (2) through the activation of the said heat generation source (4).

6_). An extractor as in claim 4, characterised by the fact that on the said first (10) and the said second (M) conduits, the inlet (151) and the outlet (15u) of a recuperation circuit C15) of the---, flow-suspended solvent are open, which flow Is circulating inside the extractor and is extracted bythe said carbon (2) during the activation phase of the said heat generation source (4).

7). An extractor as in claims 1 or from 2 to 6, characterised by the fact that the said heat exchanger (3) is connectable, at different times, to the said heat generating source (4) and to cooling source.

3). An air-flow regenerating activated carbor, 13 extractor with an incorporated heat exchanger, particularly applicable in and suitable for machines and plants for the cleaning by solvents of cloth, textiles and metals, characterised by the fact of having internally to a container (1) of carbon (2) a heat exchanger (3) fed directly by a heat generating source (4) also house.,.::! internally to the said container (1), and further equipped with a duct (9) for the circulation of the flow to be treated, comprising.

- a first conduit (10) defining the inlet portion of the flow, which is connected to the inlet of ventilator group (11) which conduit (10) outlet is connected to an inlet of the said heat exchanger C 3 a second conduit (12) open at the point where the fume flow exits the heat exchanger (3) and terminating directly inside the container (1); - a third conduit (13), opening into the said container (1) of the carbon (2) at a level above that of the carbon CE) itself, for the exit of the extracted flow; the said second conduit (12) terminating inside the said container (1) of the carbon (2) through an inlet mouth (6) positioned above a substantially net-like element (7) which, 14 inferiorly delimits the said container (1) of the carbon (2).

An extractor as in claim B, characterised by the fact that a connection valve (14) is positioned on the said first conduit (10), which valve (10 connects the said container (1) with a solvent recuperation or condensation circuit (15),; the said valve (14) being normally closed during theextracting phase and open and mobile during a regeneration phase of the said carbon (2) throug'.1 the activation of the said heat generation source C4); inlet and respectively outlet of the said first (10) and second conduits (12) also being open5 said inlet and outlet being of recuperation circuit (15) of the solvent suspended in the said flow being circulated internally to the extractor and being extracted from the said carbon (2) during the activation pahse of the heat generating source (4) through an condensing device or valve (17), external to the extractor and forming patt of the solvent recuperation circuit of the machine andior plant.

10). An extractor as in claims from 1 to 7 or from 3 to 4 E-, 9, characterised by the fact that at the upper part of the said container CY a further net structure (7) is envisaged, for the upper containment of the said carbon (2).

An extractor as in claims 3 and 9, characterised by the fact that the said extractor is connectable, at different times, to the maid heat generating source (4) and to a cooling source.

An extractor as in all the preceding claims an-,.J according to what is described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings and for the stated claims.