KR20030097430A - absoption type air dryer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An absorption type dehumidification system is provided to improve regenerating efficiency of absorbent charged in absorption towers to extend life span, and to improve dehumidifying performance thereby. CONSTITUTION: A system includes a first absorption tower(1) and a second absorption tower(2); an air compressor(3); a first cooler(4) cooling wet air discharged from the air compressor; a first moisture separator(5) separating moisture from wet air cooled by the first cooler; a flow rate control valve(6) installed to an outlet of the first moisture separator; a regenerating direction switching valve(7) circulating some of wet air branched through a tube branched from the outlet of the air compressor to regenerating process; a heater(8) installed on a tube extended from the regenerating direction switching valve to heat regenerating air branched through the tube branched from the outlet of the air compressor; a second cooler(9) connected with the regenerating direction switching valve; a second moisture separator(10) connected with an outlet of the second cooler; a first absorption direction switching part(11) comprising a plurality of opening and closing valves(11a,11b,11c,11d) connected with lower parts of the first absorption tower and the second absorption tower and the regenerating direction switching valve; and a second absorption direction switching part(12) comprising a plurality of opening and closing valves(12a,12b,12c,12d) connected with upper parts of the first absorption tower and the second absorption tower, the heater and a dry air outlet.

Description

Adsorption type dehumidification system {absoption type air dryer system}

The present invention relates to an adsorption type dehumidification system, and more particularly, to an adsorption type dehumidification system for achieving higher dehumidification performance by further improving the regeneration efficiency of the adsorbent used for dehumidification of wet air.

In general, various industrial sites that use compressed air obtain compressed air by using an air compressor, and in the process of compressing air by using such an air compressor, an oil component of various mechanical parts such as a compressed piston is stored in the compressed air. In addition to being contained, dust and moisture in the atmosphere are also included.

In particular, moisture is generated naturally as the air is compressed and changes in its saturation state.

Compressed air containing moisture or oil may be used as it is for various mechanical devices, but in the precision industrial field such as food processing, chemical processing or semiconductor production line, Air can cause very fatal damage.

Therefore, a dehumidifier system (air dryer system) has been applied to various precision industrial sites in order to remove the moisture contained in the air, the dehumidification system is a cooling type to dehumidify by cooling the air below the dew point temperature using a freezer, Compression type to remove water in the air by increasing pressure while keeping the temperature constant, hygroscopic type to dehumidify by contacting air with a solid or liquid hygroscopic material, and dehumidification by adsorbing air into a solid adsorbent to adsorb to the micropores of the adsorbent. It is roughly classified by adsorption.

Among these, in recent years, the adsorption type dehumidification system which has high dehumidification efficiency and thermal efficiency is lower than the liquid absorption method, but can provide super-dry air which can dehumidify even in a very low dew point.

The adsorption type dehumidification system has two adsorption towers in which an adsorbent is incorporated, and one of the two adsorption towers has a direction of compressed air supplied to the two adsorption towers alternately to perform dehumidification and regeneration functions. It consists of a control panel incorporating a directional valve for switching, an electromagnetic valve and a timer for controlling the operation of the directional valve.

In addition, such an adsorption dehumidification system is classified into a non-heating type that requires no heat source and a heating type that requires a heat source according to the method of regenerating the adsorbent in the adsorption tower. On the other hand, there is a drawback that the use efficiency is quite low, while the heating type has the advantage of low consumption of regenerated air and a high energy use efficiency.

The heating type for regenerating the adsorbent in the adsorption column by such a heat source includes a heater built-in type in which the heater is built in the adsorption tower, a heater external type in which the heater is mounted outside the adsorption tower, and a blower mounted on one side of the compressed air supply pipe to absorb the external air. A blower purge type for heating the gas and a blower type for circulating the compressed air in itself to regenerate by heating and cooling the adsorbent.

Among these, the adsorption type dehumidification system that regenerates the adsorbent by the above-described circulation type has the advantage of circulating the compressed air in itself to heat and cool the adsorbent so that there is no consumption of the compressed air, but the heater internal type, the heater external type, the blower purge, etc. Compared with the regeneration efficiency is very low, the service life of the adsorbent is reduced, which has a disadvantage in that the dehumidification performance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an adsorption type dehumidification system which improves the regeneration efficiency of the adsorbent packed in the adsorption tower, thereby extending the service life, and thus improving the dehumidification performance. .

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an adsorption type dehumidification system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a heating process of a dehumidification process and a regeneration process of the adsorption dehumidification system of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a cooling process of a dehumidification process and a regeneration process of the adsorption type dehumidification system of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1, 2: first and second adsorption tower

3: air compressor 4: first cooler

5: first water separator 6: flow control valve

7: Redirecting valve for regeneration 8: Heater

9 second cooler 10 second water separator

11: first direction switch for adsorption

12: second direction switching unit for adsorption

The present invention for achieving the above object, the first and second adsorption tower is filled with a predetermined adsorbent therein to alternately dehumidify the humid air flowing from the outside; An air compressor that sucks external humid air and compresses the same to a predetermined pressure; A first cooler for cooling the wet air discharged from the air compressor; A first water separator for separating the water contained in the cooled humid air from the first cooler; A flow rate control valve installed at a discharge port side of the first water separator to maintain a constant amount of regenerated air; A regeneration directional valve for circulating some wet air classified through a pipe branched at the discharge port side of the air compressor in a regeneration process; A heater installed on a pipe extending from one side of the regeneration direction switching valve and heating regenerated air classified through a pipe branched at a discharge port side of the air compressor; A second cooler connected to one side port of the redirection valve for regeneration; A second water separator in communication with the discharge port side of the second cooler; A first direction switching part for adsorption comprising a plurality of on / off valves which are connected to respective lower portions of the first and second adsorption towers and the redirection valves for regeneration to switch inflow of wet air and regeneration air to the first and second adsorption towers; ; And a second direction switching unit for adsorption comprising a plurality of opening / closing valves connected to the upper portions of the first and second adsorption towers and the heaters to switch inflow of wet air and regeneration air into the first and second adsorption towers.

Preferably, a pretreatment filter is further provided between the first water separator and the flow control valve.

Preferably, a post-treatment filter is further provided on the dry air discharge port side extending from the adsorption second direction switching unit.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 illustrate an adsorptive dehumidification system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the adsorption dehumidification system of the present invention is the first and second adsorption tower (1, 2) performing the alternate dehumidification and regeneration function of the humid air, and the air compressor for sucking the external humid air to compress to a predetermined pressure ( 3), a first cooler 4 for cooling the wet air discharged from the air compressor 3, a first water separator 5 for separating water contained in the wet air cooled from the first cooler 4, Flow regulating valve (6) installed on the discharge port side of the first water separator (5) to keep the amount of regenerated air constant, and regeneration direction switching valve provided on the pipe branched from the discharge port side of the air compressor (3). (7), and a heater (8) installed on a pipe extending from one side of the regeneration direction switching valve (7) to heat the classified air through the pipe branched at the discharge port side of the air compressor (3); The second installed in communication with the redirection valve 7 for regeneration 9, the second water separator 10 provided at the discharge port side of the second cooler 9, the lower portions of the first and second adsorption towers 1 and 2, and the redirection valves 7 for regeneration; Adsorption first direction switching section 11 consisting of a plurality of on-off valves 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d selectively installed in communication with each other, upper and heaters 8 of the first and second adsorption towers 1, 2, respectively. And a second direction switching part 12 for adsorption composed of a plurality of on / off valves 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d installed in selective communication.

The first and second adsorption towers 1 and 2 have activated alumina, silica gel (sorbead ws), alumina silica gel, and molcuric sheave, which can adsorb moisture contained in wet air therein. Desiccants such as sieves are filled. The first and second adsorption towers 1 and 2 are respectively provided with filling / exhaust ports for replacing these adsorbents on the outer and lower portions thereof, and a screen mesh made of stainless steel to prevent loss of the adsorbents on the inner and upper portions thereof. In addition, an air distributor is built in to properly distribute the flow of air.

The air compressor 3 is located at the top of the system and compresses wet air flowing from the outside to a predetermined pressure (about 7.0 kg / cm 2). The air compressor 3 may be applied to a general type of air compressor such as a screw type generating a compression heat of approximately 150 ° C. or a turbo type generating a compression heat of approximately 120 ° C. The wet air compressed at a predetermined pressure by the heat of compression of the air compressor is heated to about 100 ° C to 150 ° C.

The first cooler 4 is installed at the discharge port side of the air compressor 3 to cool the wet air compressed to high temperature and high pressure in the air compressor to a temperature of 40 ° C or lower.

The first water separator 5 is a conventional cyclone type or demister type water separator that separates the condensed water of the wet air generated while cooling in the first cooler 4.

The flow regulating valve 6 is installed at the discharge port side of the first water separator 5 to maintain a constant amount of regenerated air used in the regeneration process of the adsorption towers 1 and 2 described above. Here, the regenerated air refers to air (about 30 to 40%) which is partially classified among the wet air discharged from the air compressor (3). This flow control valve 6 reduces the amount of regeneration air when the inlet pressure is high, and increases the amount of regeneration air when the inlet pressure is low.

The regeneration direction switching valve 7 circulates the wet air classified through the pipe branched between the air compressor 3 and the first cooler 4 to the regeneration process of the adsorption towers 1 and 2.

The heater 8 is a kind of a conventional electric heater, which is installed on a pipe extending from one side of the regeneration direction switching valve 7 and partially divided into regenerated air through a pipe branched at the discharge port side of the air compressor 3. Is heated to a predetermined temperature. Here, the predetermined temperature is about 185 ℃ to 205 ℃ when the adsorbent filled in the adsorption tower is activated alumina (activated alumina), about 120 ℃ to 150 ℃ when the silica gel (sorbead ws), molcura In the case of molecular sieves, the temperature is about 210 ° C to 230 ° C.

The second cooler 9 is installed in communication with one port of the redirection valve 7 for regeneration, is heated by the heater 8, and the moisture of the adsorbent on either side of the first and second adsorption towers 1 and 2. The regenerated air which had been desorbed was cooled to a temperature of about 40 ° C or lower.

The second water separator 10 is installed at a discharge port side of the second cooler 9 so as to separate condensed water of regeneration air generated while being cooled in the second cooler 9. (demister type) water separator.

Adsorption first direction switching unit 11 is the first to fourth opening and closing valves installed so as to selectively communicate with each of the lower and regeneration direction switching valve (7) of the above-mentioned first and second adsorption tower (1, 2) 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d).

Adsorption second direction switching unit 12 is the first to fourth on-off valves (12a, 12b) installed to selectively communicate with the upper portion of the first and second adsorption tower (1, 2) and the heater (8) described above , 12c, 12d). The dry air discharge port 15 communicates with the downstream side of the adsorption second direction switching unit 12.

The adsorption first and second direction switching units 11 and 12 intercept selective flow of humid air and regeneration air so that the first and second adsorption towers 1 and 2 alternately perform dehumidification and regeneration functions. do.

Alternatively, a pretreatment filter 13 is further provided between the first water separator 5 and the flow control valve 6 to simultaneously remove oil / water not yet removed by the first water separator 5. Discharge through an auto drain to prevent contamination of the adsorbent. This pretreatment filter 13 would be advantageous in the form of a conventional activated carbon filter.

Alternatively, by further comprising a post-treatment filter 14 on the side of the dry air discharge port 15 extending from the second direction switching valve 12 for switching the adsorption tower, the dust generated in the adsorbent is removed to use the compressed air. Prevent damage to instrumentation and other equipment.

On the other hand, the pretreatment filter 13 and the post-treatment filter 14 are used at the time of the outlet pressure drop in order to prevent a drop in the outlet pressure due to excessive differential pressure of the adsorption towers 1 and 2 or a malfunction of various valves. Automatically open the pass valve to keep the outlet pressure constant.

Hereinafter, the operation of the adsorption type dehumidification system of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail.

First, it is assumed that the first adsorption tower 1 performs a dehumidification process and the second adsorption tower 2 performs a regeneration process.

2 and 3, after the external humid air is compressed to high temperature and high pressure by the air compressor 3, the dehumidification process is cooled to a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure through the first cooler 4, In the first water separator 5, the condensed water of the wet air is separated.

The wet air flows into the inlet formed in the lower portion of the first adsorption tower 1 via the flow control valve 6 and the first opening / closing valve 11a of the first direction switching unit 11 for adsorption. At this time, the second and third on-off valves 11b and 11c are closed and the fourth on-off valve 11d is opened.

The wet air is adsorbed and dried in the wet air while being in contact with the adsorbent while passing from the bottom of the first adsorption tower 1 to the top.

The dry air dried in the first adsorption tower 1 is intended to use the dry air through the dry air outlet 15 through the open third open / close valve 12c of the second direction switching part 12 for adsorption. It is supplied on the air storage tank or the main air line where it is used. At this time, the first and fourth on-off valves 12a and 12d are closed, and the second on-off valve 12b is opened.

Next, a regeneration process is performed in the second adsorption tower 2 simultaneously with the dehumidification process of the first adsorption tower 1 as follows.

As the heating process of the regeneration process is shown in Figure 2, a portion (approximately 30 to 40%) of the wet air is introduced through the pipe branched between the air compressor (3) and the first cooler (4), It is heated to a predetermined temperature (approximately 200 ° C.) while passing through the heater 8 via the directional valve 7. The heated regenerated air flows into the upper portion of the second adsorption tower 2 and moves downward to desorb the moisture contained in the fine pores of the adsorbent. Again, the second cooler 9 is cooled to a predetermined temperature (approximately 40 ° C.) through the open fourth opening valve 11d of the adsorption first direction switching unit 11 and the regeneration direction switching valve 7. After that, the condensate is separated from the second water separator 10, and the regenerated air thus cooled and the water is removed is joined with the inlet wet air at the flow control valve 6. When the heating process of this regeneration process is completed, the heater 8 is turned off.

Next, the cooling process of the regeneration process, as shown in Figure 3, a portion (approximately 30-40%) of the wet air is introduced through the pipe branched between the first water separator (5) and the flow control valve (6) After passing through the fourth open / close valve 11d of the first direction switching unit 11 for adsorption through the regeneration direction switching valve 7, it flows into the lower portion of the second adsorption tower and moves upward to cool the adsorbent. . After cooling to the predetermined temperature (approximately 40 ° C.) in the second cooler (9) via the second open / close valve (12b) and the regeneration direction switching valve (7) of the second direction switching valve (12) for adsorption. The condensed water is separated in the second water separator 10, and the regenerated air thus cooled and the water is removed is joined with the inlet wet air at the flow regulating valve 6. Here, if the cooling of the adsorbent is too excessive, the adsorbent may adsorb the regenerated air, so it is cooled only until the lower temperature of the second adsorption tower 2 becomes approximately 60 to 70 ° C.

Next, after the regeneration is performed by the heating and cooling process of the second adsorption tower 2, the regeneration air again joins the inlet-side wet air of the first adsorption tower 1 in the flow control valve 6, and the first adsorption tower 1 Dehumidified). Here, the flow control valve 6 reduces the amount of regenerated air when the inlet pressure of the first adsorption tower 1 is high so as to keep the amount of regenerated air joining the wet air at the inlet side of the first adsorption tower 1 constant. If the inlet pressure is low, the amount of regenerated air is increased.

On the other hand, the dehumidification and regeneration processes of the first and second adsorption towers 1 and 2 are alternately repeated after a predetermined time (dehumidification process: 4 hours, regeneration process: 4 hours).

The present invention as described above, has a very excellent effect of improving the regeneration efficiency of the adsorbent packed in the adsorption column to extend the service life, thereby further improving the dehumidification performance.

In the above, the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art may vary without departing from the spirit of the technical idea of the present invention described in the claims below. You can change it.

Claims (3)

First and second adsorption towers filled with a predetermined adsorbent to alternately dehumidify the humid air introduced from the outside; An air compressor that sucks external humid air and compresses the same to a predetermined pressure; A first cooler configured to cool the wet air discharged from the air compressor; A first water separator for separating the water contained in the cooled humid air from the first cooler; A flow rate control valve installed at a discharge port side of the first water separator to maintain a constant amount of regenerated air; A regeneration directional valve for recirculating the regenerated air sorted through the pipe branched at the discharge port side of the air compressor to the regeneration process; A heater installed on a pipe extending from one side of the regeneration direction switching valve to heat regenerated air introduced through a pipe branched at a discharge port side of the air compressor; A second cooler installed in communication with one side port of the redirection valve for regeneration; A second water separator in communication with the discharge port side of the second cooler; A first direction section for adsorption comprising a plurality of opening and closing valves in communication with each lower portion of the first and second adsorption towers and the regeneration direction switching valves for switching the flow regulation of the wet air and the regeneration air to the first and second adsorption towers. Affected areas; And a second direction changer for adsorption which is connected to each upper portion of the first and second adsorption towers and the heater, and includes a plurality of on / off valves to switch the flow control of the wet air and the regeneration air to the first and second adsorption towers. Adsorption-type dehumidification system characterized by. The method of claim 1, Adsorption dehumidification system further comprises a pre-treatment filter between the first water separator and the flow control valve. The method of claim 1, Adsorption dehumidification system characterized in that it further comprises a post-treatment filter on the dry air discharge port side extending from the adsorption second direction switching unit.