US2541694A - Adsorption system - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1951 H. L. GALSON ABSORPTION SYSTEM 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1944 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 13, 1951 H. GALSON ABSORPTION SYSTEM Filed Oct. 4, 1944 vs Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fl/idlh BY 41; 32/

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 13, 1951 H. L. GALSON ADSORPTION SYSTEM 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 4, 1944 FIGJO IN V EN TOR.

Feb. 13, 1951 w H. GALSON 2,541,694

, ADSORPTION SYSTEM Filed Oct. 4, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.4

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 13, 1951 H. GALSON 2,541,694

ABSORPTION SYSTEM Filed Oct. 4, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

BY w fg:

Feb. 13, 1951 H. L. GALsoN 2,541,694-

ADSORPTION SYSTEM Filed Oct. 4, 1944 -6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.9

IN V EN TOR.

$71M BY Patented Feb. 13, 1951 ABSORPTION SYSTEM Henry L. Galson, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 4, 1944, Serial No. 557,169

4 Claims.

This invention relates to air conditioning units of the adsorption type.

The general object of the invention is to provide a self-contained unit which is compact in form, efiicient in operation, relatively easy to assemble and service, and adapted to house a removable adsorber or dehydration section.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an adsorber section containing a rotatable drum arranged to be actuated by driving means located within a separate fan section. The fan section, substantially in unitary form, includes a plurality of fans arranged tocirculate a plurality of streams of air in separate courses through the adsorber section.

A further feature resides in the provision of a simple and effective method of driving the fans in the fan section, as well as rotating the adsorber means in the adsorber section, by a single motor or other device located within one of the sections.

Another feature covers the provision of a relatively inexpensive drum positioned within the adsorber section and mounted on a plurality of rotors arranged accurately to maintain the drum in a predetermined position. The drum is driven at a desired speed by means associated with the same driving element employed for operating the fans. When required, the drum may be removed for inspection or servicing and replaced exactly in position by means assuring proper location, alignment and interpositioning with respect to the driving means and other associated elements.

Another feature covers the provision of sealing means within and without the drum, employed to cooperate with sealing elements insuring confinement of a plurality of streams of air in their respective courses regardless of the continued rotation of the drum.

A further feature resides in the use of simple and inexpensive seal holders attached to and adapted to rotate with the drum. Minimum wear on all sealing devices and sealing elements takes place, and long life is assured despite flexing of some of the component members and their frictional engagement over long periods of time. The sealing elements are preferably made of thin flexible metal stock arranged to be held in a projecting position at points projecting from outer and inner peripheral edges of said drum so that sealing contact will be made regardless of the fact that different of the sealing elements are not identically held but project, in a measure, to different degrees from the peripheral edges.

A further feature provides a counter-current relationship in a multi-circuit air flow arrangement through adsorption and reactivating portions of the drum, with leakage between the air circuits held at a minimum and desired pressures maintained in the respective sections of the apparatus through which said air streams circulate. Said pressures are established so that leakage, if any, takes place from the adsorber portion of the drum to the reactivating portion.

Another feature covers the provision of reactivating means as well as after cooling means in combination with one section of the apparatus so that ease in factory fabrication, field assembly and in arrangement in unitary form, is assured with minimum space required for positioning the apparatus.

Another feature covers the use of a simple arrangement for retaining the drum in fixed position, when desired, said means readily being adapted to be put in non-operative position whereupon the drum may be rotated on independent rollers. This is advantageous in shipping of the section containing the drum and may also be employed whenever it is desired to remove the rollers.

These and other features will be apparent from the following description of a typical form of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of applicants unit showing the general assembly of parts without regard to details of construction or manner of assembly.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view in perspective in part, without regard to manner of assembly or positioning, of applicants drum and fan arrangement in combination with the driving means therefor.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail of applicants sealing arrangement.

Fig. 4 shows a sealing strip.

Fig. 5 is a section on th line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows the manner of positioning a sealing strip on the outside periphery of the drum.

Fig. 7 shows the manner of positioning a sealing strip on the inside periphery of the drum.

Fig. 8 is an end view, in diagrammatic form, of the drum section, illustrating the interpositioning of drum, seal shoes, purge arrangement and supporting means.

Fig. 9 shows the manner of mounting the drum and rollers within the end sheet of the adsorption section, and

f Fig. 10 illustrates the positioning and locking means for the drum.

Considering the drawings similar designations referring to similar parts, numeral l2 generally designates an air dehydration and reactivation system including a fan section i3 and a section It; designed to dehydrate and reactivate air or other gases.

For ease of fabrication and assembly sections l3 and [4 are made in separable form. At the point of assembly the sections are bolted together and then form an integral structure.

The fan section includes motor I5 suitably mounted on channel members [6 positioned on horizontal partition sheet H which also serves as the bottom of fan section l3.

The fan section, shown in perspective in. Fig. 2 contains the assembly of apparatus designed to route air for conditioning, as well as air for reactivation, through the system; and also contains the driving mechanism for the air handling apparatus as well as for the drum, used for dehydration, positioned in section 14.

Thus, fan I8, used for circulating the air to be conditioned through the system, and fan 19, usedfor circulating the air employed for reactivation, are suitably housed and driven from common shaft 29 by a drive 2! which, in the usual manner, includes belts, sheaves, bearings, etc., constituting the usual means employed for the purpose, which per se form no part of this invention. Motor l5 also drives drum 22 located in section is by means of sheave 23 driven, as shown, from the motor. The sheave is mounted on jack shaft 24 on which is mounted another sheave 25 for driving pulley 25 on shaft 26 mounting pinion 27 engaging gear 28 constituting one end of drum 22.

Reverting to the meansemployed for air circulation and referring to Fig. 1, the air used for conditioning as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1 enters the system through inlet dampers 29 controlling the admission of outside air and return air dampers 38 for controlling the admission of return air from the conditioned area, said streams of air entering chamber 3 I, then proceeding through filter 32, into fan 58, then through drum 22, as will hereinafter be more fully described, and then out from the unit through cooling coil 33 and into the area to be-conditioned.

The air for reactivation as shown by the dotdash line in Fig. l is outside air entering through filter 34. It then passes through heating means 35 which may be served by a steam coil, gas burners, or equivalent means; then passes through drum 22 as will hereinafter be more fully described; enters fan l9 and leaves the system through exhaust passage 36 provided with dampers 31.

Considering the structure of section 14, with particular reference to Fig. 9, drum 22 is positioned between end sheets 38 on opposite sides of the casing of section l4 preferably made of sheet metal. The end sheets have welded thereto three positioning nuts 35 (see Fig. positioned as shown on- Fig. 1, 120 apart. A bolt 4| is adapted to pass through each opening 42 in the end sheets and similarly through an opening 43 in each of the drum ends, so that the drum is secured in non-rotatable position. Bolts 4!, when withdrawn from the drum ends may be left within nut 49 by inserting washers or spacers between the bolt head and the nut. Thus, the drum, when shipped, may be held in stationary position,

Whereas in actual practice when the drum is in use, it will be free to rotate in the manner hereinafter described.

The drum itself is held in rotatable position by rollers 44, shown in Figs. 2 and 9. The rollers are approximately apart and mounted on shafts 45 retained within bearings 46 bolted to end sheets 38 as shown on Figs. 8 and 9. An access port 4'! is also provided in both end sheets.

The drum itself consists of a cylindrical perforated sheet 48, forming an inner supporting sheet. Sheet 48 is mounted: on flange portions 49 of drum ends 50. Radial partition members 5|, run the full width of the drum between drum ends 50, as illustrated in Fig. 2, being spot welded to sheet 48. Although the peripheries of both drum ends may be provided with gears for driving purposes, applicantemploys only one such gear 28, on oneof the drum ends as shown on Fig. 2, with the other drum end not being driven.

Within the recessed portions formed by sheet 48 and radial partition members 5! is positioned adsorbent material 53, as illustrated in the portion marked 53 on Figs. 3 and 8 which is typical of all of the recessed portions-,- the adsorber material may consist of packed porous glass filaiments; for example, as disclosed in co-pending application of Byron Rufus Winborn, Jr., filed. February 19, 1943, Serial No. 476,499 now abandoned. This-materialisretained in position by:

outer perforated screens 54 and these are held in closed position t'o-prevent the adsorbent material from spilling by means: ofpack: retaining members 55. partition member 51 has'mounted thereon a pack retaining member 55 having extension lips 55 abuttingscreens 54. Since all radial members are of the same height, the positioning of retain-. ing members 55 therein will result in having the screens 54 in the same relative position about the drum at all compartments thereof.

Sinoei-t isessential thatthecourse of flowof theair tobe conditioned be separated from the course of flow of the air employedfor reactivation, applicant employs: sealing means for segregating the two aircourses-.-

Within drum 22 is located an imperforat'e partition 55extending-betweenend-sheets38. At the opposite extremities of partition 5-? and adjacent cylindrical perforated sheet G8 are affixed seal shoes 58-and 59, which are readily adjusted. Sea-l shoes 58, 59 are preferably madeofmaterial, such as carbonor graphite, impart-ing lubricating qualities to wiping seals as will hereinafter be described;

Outer seal shoesfii) runthefullwidth of sectionl i betweenend sheets 3 being belted in position through the end sheets; positionedso closely to-the= end sheets that any leakage around the drum ends 59-wi1l beneg-lig-ible but if desired sealing rings-6i may bepositioned between the end sheets38 anddrum-endsBil.

A plurality of seals 62 formed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5' are inserted in seal retainers fisand 64 mounted respectivelyon pack retaining members 55" and on the inside of cylindrical perforated sheet 48 in line with radial partitionmembers 5i andaifi-xed-theretc'; as shown in Fig. 3.

Each outer seal retainer 531s bolted to its pack retaining member 55 as shown in Fig. 6'. The seal retainer G3 is in the nature of atriangular enclosing formation within which may be slid seal 62. The seal 82, running the full width of the drum; is a thin, flexible; preferably metallic, wiping member havinga series of bumps or similar formations 65*. Thus by sliding the bump formatio'h's 65 within seal retainer 63* the seal 6-2'wi1l be heldin position, withsufficient play afforded to assure effective sealing action. It hould be noted As shown in Fig. 6; each radial The drumends may be 5. that seal 62 rests against the rounded extremity 39 of pack retaining member 55 with the result that breakage of the seal arising from repeated fiexure and fatigue will be minimized despite the pressure from the seal at said point.

The inner seal retainer 64 is a two-piece assembly as shown in Fig. 7 comprising a formation within which seals 62 are positioned similar to the showing in Fig. 6. It should be noted that here, too, round contact points are provided on seal shoes 58, 59 to mitigate breakage of seals resulting from fatigue.

In practice, the drum rotates, in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1, and a true countercurrent relationship is established between both air streams and the adsorbent material rotated in the drum. Considering first the air stream used for conditioning, a desired volume, made up of outside and return air in proportions determined by dampers 29 and 30, passes through filter 32, enters fans [8 and then proceeds through the adsorbent material in drum 22, as shown by the arrows on the dotted line course in Fig. 1. Air from the fan first contacts the adsorbent material passing through sector 66 and then passes out of the drum in a course contacting the adsorbent material passing through sector 61.

Since the drum rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, the entering air, in most humid condition, meets that portion of the adsorbent material which is Wet or which has already adsorbed considerable moisture; whereas the air passing through sector 67 is drier and meets that portion of the adsorbent material which has just been reactivated and hence is driest. Thus, applicant provides a true counterfiow relationship making for most effective moisture removal, wherein the driest air meets the driest adsorbent material and the more humid air meets the wetted material.

The air leaving sector 61 is in desired dehydrated condition and may then be subjected to the cooling action of coil 33. Any cooling medium, such as tap water, well water or refrigerated fluid, may be circulated through the coil to reduce the sensible heat of the air before it is discharged into the area to be conditioned.

The air employed for reactivation also is routed in counter-flow relationship with respect to the adsorbent material. Thus, the outside air, after passing through filter 34, is raised in temperature by heater 35 to a desired elevated degree. It then contacts the adsorbent passing through sector 68. This is the driest adsorbent material, and so we have the hottest air meeting the driest material. This air next passes through sector 69 as shown. It is then somewhat cooler and. less capable of driving oif moisture from the adsorbent material. The adsorbent material passing through sector 69 is wettest and so we have the less effective activating air first meeting the wettest material and accomplishing partial reactivation thereof, whereas the hottest air then meets the partially reactivated material. This again establishes a most effective counterfiow relationship, making for thorough reactivation.

The inner and outer seal arrangements not only establish an eifective barrier between sectors 66 and El on the one hand and sectors 68 and 69 on the other, but in combination with the side seal shoes 60 also assure flow from sector 66 to sector 61 and from sector 68 to sector 69.

Fan I8 blows the air to be conditioned into the adsorption side of section [4 whereas fan 19 pulls air from the reactivation side of section M with the result that there is greater pressure on the adsorption side than on the reactivation side with flow. tending into the reactivation side with respect to such leakage as occurs therebetween. Such leakage is held to a minimum with the provision of the sealing means provided. However, applicant makes special provision for an active circulation of a small volume of air from the adsorption side to the reactivation side in order to cool that portion of the adsorbent material about to leave sector 68 and enter sector 61. Such cooling of the heated adsorbent is desirable. Thus, as shown in Fig. 8, passage 10 is provided, controlled by purge damper H for regulating the flow of such air routed from sector 61 to sector 68 for the purpose aforesaid.

Since the invention exemplified by the system disclosed may be practiced with modifications in design of apparatus as well as in the method of operation employed, obvious variations are intended to be covered, and the terms of the appended claims are not intended to be limited to the specific combinations and steps employed.

I claim:

1. In an adsorption system for conditioning air, a casing, a rotatable drum within the casing, means for rotating said drum, adsorber material mounted on the surface of said drum, sealing means within the drum dividing the drum into separate courses for the passage of air, sealing means without the drum sealing the respective courses from one anothenmeans for passing a stream of air to be conditioned through the adsorber material on said drum into the interior of the drum to partially dehumidify the same and again through the adsorber material on said drum to complete the dehumidification, the adsorber material in driest condition contacting the portion of the stream which has been partially dehumidified while the adsorber material which has adsorbed moisture contacts a portion of the stream which has not been dehumidified, and means for passing a stream of activating air in a direction counter to the direction of fiow of the first stream through the adsorber material on said drum then in a second course within the drum and again through the adsorber material on said drum for removal of the activating air stream from the casing, the adsorber material in moisture-laden condition after its passage in contact with the first stream passing in contact with a portion of the reactivating stream which has spent a portion of its reactivating capacity while the partially dried adsorber material passes in contact with a portion of the reactivating stream which has its capacity for reactivation still unspent.

2. In an adsorption system for conditioning air which includes a casing and a rotatable drum carrying adsorber material within the casing, means for forming a plurality of separate air passages through the drum and through the casing, said means comprising a partition disposed within the drum, seal shoes disposed at the ends of said partition, triangular shaped seal retainers mounted interiorly of the drum, seal strips held within said retainers to engage said shoes, projections on said strips limiting vertical movement of the strips, seal shoes extending longitudinally of said drum mounted on said casing, triangular shaped retaining members mounted on the exterior of the drum, seal strips disposed in said exterior retaining members adapted to engage the exterior shoes, and pro- 7v jeet onsen:se d1seaLstripsl mitin aventlea zmovement o heetrins- .3- eal n rm ainsofor an.odsoeptiqn,sy temx o c nditionin s irwhi himl de anasin an ota able drum disposed wi hin i he @asi-n h ne separate zeirpassaees atheretbmu h om ri ine an mperfor t partition wi hin h d eal :sh es :thereon, uter s a hpes exteriorly o the drum exten n :th rlene hno he ea n .3 3 retainersmQu t-ed on the drums ,=..in e.ri y the eof; lexible a ing stripszhe din1 1 re a em to p rm Wi ng :flQUQI -,agains t e hpes, and mea s rqndahesstxips m ing ver ica m vement o t rst ps w thincthe retainers.

S n means-a cordin toxcla mfi nwh qh 1 each retainer comprises a triangular-Shaped frame m e havin on openin in mm en ach Istrip com isin a thin, sh e vi e within and ext in thro h the 0p.enin en a 13110- ee on -s strip .withinth trian u ar;fo ma- 20 fionlar er insize tha the meanin L. .GA SQ RcEEEBEN E5 G T-ED The following references .are of ,record in .the file of this p tent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Cook Oct.'12,'1926 Egli July 14, 1931 Miller Sept, ,1, 1936 Moore 'et a1. "Dec. '7, 1937 Ashley Oct. 25,1938 Smith ,Jan. '9, 1940 Moore etral. ,June 11, 1940 Smith Nov. 25, 1941 'Larriva "Deer-16, 194,1 Highley "May 26,1942 Mi11er June 16,1942 Shoeld Nov. 24, 1942

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