US3899023A - Equipment for drying gas, in particular air, by refrigeration - Google Patents
Equipment for drying gas, in particular air, by refrigeration Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3899023A US3899023A US372333A US37233373A US3899023A US 3899023 A US3899023 A US 3899023A US 372333 A US372333 A US 372333A US 37233373 A US37233373 A US 37233373A US 3899023 A US3899023 A US 3899023A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- gas
- heat exchanger
- cooling coil
- refrigerant
- insert
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
- F28D7/08—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being otherwise bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
- F28D7/082—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being otherwise bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag with serpentine or zig-zag configuration
- F28D7/085—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being otherwise bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag with serpentine or zig-zag configuration in the form of parallel conduits coupled by bent portions
-
- 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
- B01D53/265—Drying gases or vapours by refrigeration (condensation)
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
- F28D7/08—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being otherwise bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S165/00—Heat exchange
- Y10S165/184—Indirect-contact condenser
- Y10S165/205—Space for condensable vapor surrounds space for coolant
Definitions
- a filter removes p 2 9 62/272; 1 5 165/178 rities in the cooled gas extracted from the lower por- 51 Int. Cl F28b 1/00; F28f 9/26 tion of the gzls/rfifrirmrdnt heat exchanger before it is [58] Field of Search 62/90, 93, 272, 317; recirculated through a removable insert P p arrange- 165/I43, 163, 178 1 1 55/269 ment of the gas/gas heat exchanger. Such recirculation enables the cooled gas to precool newly admitted gas 56 1 References Cited within the gas/gas heat exchanger.
- the principle of drying gas by refrigeration is based upon the fact that the dew point of the gas to be dried is lowered so that humidity contained in the gas is separated, along with at least a portion of further impurities.
- the two heat exchanger columns are positioned in a horizontal direction so that due to the use of two different kinds of heat exchangers a satisfactory efficiency is achieved, however, as a result of the horizontal extension of the columns difficulties are encountered with regard to an efficient concentrated withdrawal of the separated humidity or impurities, respectively, as well as with regard to a suitable guidance of the gas or refrigerant flow because the force of gravity does not act upon the gas or refrigerant flow in the flow direction but rather in a direction transverse thereto.
- Another known device differs from the abovedescribed prior art merely insofar as both cooling chambers are not disposed beside each other but one above the other so that substantially the same functional operations occur except for the considerably larger height of construction which in many cases may even be excessive.
- the desired goal is reached, namely, that the height of the construction is low and the condensate accumulates in a concentrated area with the assistance of the force of gravity and, moreover, that the entire device exhibits a high cooling efficiency due to the refeeding of the gas cooled within the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger into the gas/ gas heat exchanger.
- a gas to be dried is processed vertically downward from an upper inlet to a lower outlet through a heat exchanger insert of a gas/gas heat exchanger device.
- the latter insert includes a plurality of pipes aligned vertically one above the other and in the downward path of the gas to be dried.
- Each of the pipes illustratively comprises a hollow inner portion extending longitudinally and in a horizontal plane with the insert.
- Each of the pipes supports cooling fins, or ribs, for cooling gas including the gas from the inlet.
- the hollow portion of selected ones of the pipes communicate with another inlet of the gas/gas heat exchanger for recirculating gas cooled by a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger through the gas/gas heat exchanger for precooling newly admitted gas to be dried and for upward against the force of gravity exhausting the cooled, or dried, gas to the exterior of the gas/gas heat exchanger for function use.
- a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger is used for further cooling of gas received from the lower outlet of the gas/gas heat exchanger and then coupling the cooled gas through an impurities and separated liquid filter to the hollow portion of the pipes in the gas/gas heat exchanger.
- the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger also comprises an insert comprising a cooling coil network arrangement disposed in a vertically downward path of the gas flow from the gas/gas heat exchanger via an upper inlet and a lower outlet of the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger. The latter outlet is coupled to the filter for communicating the cooled gas thereto for removal of impurities.
- the present invention provides for the flow of a gas to be dried in a vertically downward direction through a precooling gas/gas heat exchanger and thence in a vertically downward direction through a refrigerant cooling coil configurations of a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling.
- the processing continues by communicating the cooled gas through a filter for impurity removal and then by recirculating the purified cooled gas through a pipe arrangement of the gas/gas heat exchanger.
- Such recirculation enables the cooled gas to precool newly admitted gas within the gas/gas heat exchanger and thereby to increase the temperature of the cooled gas by a prescribed magnitude before it is exhausted from the gas/gas heat exchanger for functional use.
- FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a device for drying gas by refrigeration
- FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-section through the gas/- gas heat exchanger of FIG. 1, taken along line IIII;
- FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-section through the refrigerant/gas heat exchanger of FIG. 1 taken along line III-III;
- FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in section, of an insert for the refrigerant/gas heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 1 there is illustrated a refrigerating dryer according to one embodiment of this invention having a vertically extending gas/gas heat exchanger 12 as well as a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger 14 extending in parallel thereto.
- the gas/gas heat exchanger 12 includes a cylindrical housing 16 enclosing a heat exchanger insert 18 of rectangular cross-section. Collars 20 are secured to the outer circumference of the insert 18 by means of which the insert 18 rests upon brackets 22 fastened to the interior surface of housing 16. As apparent in particular from FIG. 2, pipes 24 supporting cooling ribs 26 extend between two opposite sides of the insert 18 parallel above and besides each other.
- the gas/gas heat exchanger 12 there is a stud-like inlet 28 through which the gas to be dried, preferably air, may enter.
- This gas is passed through the insert 18 in the direction indicated by arrow m, thereby flowing through the hollow spaces defined between pipes 24 and cooling ribs 26, respectively.
- the gas to be dried is passed on to a studlike outlet 30 through which it may escape from the gas/gas heat exchanger 12 as indicated with the S-shaped dashed line leading from outlet 30 to asubsequent inlet 40 of the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger 14.
- the collar 20 adjacent inlet 32 prevents gas entering through inlet 32 from being applied to the whole group of pipes 24 simultaneously. Rather, merely those pipes 24 extending below the collar 20 adjacent inlet 32 are available to receive gas.
- the gas travels to the right side of the insert 18, in order to rise there to a maximum height determined by the collar 20 located at this side of insert 18, and to enter further pipes (not shown) corresponding to pipes 24 so that the gas flow is conducted through pipes 24 in an S-like configuration.
- the open ends of the upper pipes 24 communicate with a stud-like outlet 34 through which the dried gas may leave the refrigerating dryer 10.
- the gas flow is deviated twice, however, principally any other higher number of deviations may take place.
- Gas/refrigerant heat exchanger 14 includes a heat exchanger insert 36 enclosed by a housing 38. Through the stud-like inlet 40 the gas supplied from gas/gas heat exchanger 12 may enter into the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger 14 in order to leave same upon passage of the heat exchanger insert 36 through a stud-like outlet 42 communicating with the inlet 32 of gas/gas heat exchanger 12.
- a cooling coil generally designated 44 and having linear tube-like sections 46 is distributed over the entire height and width of insert 36 (cf. FIG. 3). Sections 46 traverse insert 36 in a similar manner as pipes 24 intersect insert 18, except that at their ends they are connected to subsequent sections 46 through U- connections 48, respectively. To increase the cooling action, the sections 46 may be surrounded by cooling ribs 50 as is conventional in the art.
- the beginning of cooling coil 54 communicates with an injection conduit 52 whereas the end of cooling coil 44 terminates in an exhaust conduit 54 so that the coolant may be pumped through cooling coil 44 in a continuous closed loop.
- a filter 56 may be interconnected which then advantageously is located at the coolest point of the gas flow to be dried and which thus may intercept separated liquid and impurities in a particularly effective manner.
- the bottoms of the two heat exchangers may be provided with outlets 57 and 58, respectively, through which the liquid separated from the gas flow may be readily withdrawn as under the influence of the force of gravity it accumulates in the bottom area of the two heat exchangers and thus concentrates close to the two outlets 57 and 58, respectively.
- the refrigerant dryer 10 provides for a suitable withdrawal of the separated impurities and for a suitable course of the gas flow because it will always descend from warmer to cooler points and rises from cooler to warmer points, respectively. It also simultaneously guarantees good efficiency inasmuch as the cooled gas rising within the gas/gas heat exchanger 12 pre-cools the gas descending through insert 18 in direction of arrow m while the gas returning to outlet 34 through pipes 24 is pre-heated by the descending gas fiow thus having resumed a desired relatively high temperature level when exiting through outlet 34.
- the temperature distribution may be such that the entering gas is at a temperature of 35 C, whereas it leaves gas/ gas heat exchanger 12 at a temperature of about 20 C. Upon travel through insert 36 the gas flow may be at a temperature level of +2 C and that temperature may have been increased up to +25 C when the gas leaves gas/gas heat exchanger 12.
- FIG. 4 shows a particularly advantageous embodiment of a heat exchanger insert of this invention having a structure differing from that of heat exchanger insert 36 of FIG. 1.
- This insert likewise exhibits a case 60 receiving cooling coil elements 62, 64 of substantially slice-like configuration and having cooling coil sections 66, 68 At their lower ends the individual slice-like cooling coil elements 62, 64 rest upon supports 70. At their ends, cooling coil elements 62, 64 terminate into U-bows 72 by means of which they communicate with a manifold 74 connecting cooling coil elements 62, 64 in parallel.
- each slice-like cooling coil element 62, 64 comprises a plurality of cooling coil sections 66, 68 bent backwards and forwards in S-shaped' Cooling coil elements 62, 64 adjacent each other may thus be interlaced with each other in a comb-like manner, so that a maximum filling factor for the volume is secured and immediately adjacent sections 66, 68 of neighboring cooling coil elements 62, 64
- the mutual association of the sections of the cooling coil elements or of the cooling coil elements themselves is clearly illustrated in the lower portion of FIG. 5.
- baffles 86 may project which extend substantially over the entire length of sections 66, 68 and are fastened to the adjacent wall of case 60. These baffles 86 assure a close contact of the gas current with the cooling coil elements in the area of the outer hollow spaces, too.
- cooling coil elements 62, 64 contiguous sections of adjacent cooling coil elements may be connected with each other for example by brazing, in particular in the point of return area.
- the outer cooling coil elements may be affixed to case 60.
- the refrigerating dryer according to this invention may be used for quantities on an order of magnitude of 3,000 m.
- the three major components of the refrigerating dryer, namely the gas/gas heat exchanger, the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger and the heat exchanger insert may be designed as modules which may be composed due to the prevailing operation conditions with regard to the amount of gas (air) to be conveyed and the desired temperatures, or which may be replaced by suitable larger or smaller similar modules when there is a change in the operation conditions.
- an apparatus for drying gas, in particular air, by refrigeration including a gas/gas heat exchange and a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger, said exchangers extending with their longitudinal axes in a vertical direction, a heat exchanger insert for at least said gas/refrigerant exchanger, said heat exchanger insert comprising a plurality of cooling coil elements being connected in parallel and combined into a closed package and having a plurality of cooling coil sections being bent in their longitudinal direction backwards and forwards in an S-like configuration and extending in a horizontal direction substantially in parallel, said sections further alternating with regard to the cross-section of a cooling coil element in a zig-zag manner between a first and a second plane, adjacent cooling coil elements meshing with each other so that immediately neighboring sections of adjacent cooling coil elements provide for a mutual support.
- baffles are accommodated in free hollow spaces between neighboring sections of said cooling coil elements positioned at the outer sides of said cooling coil package, said baffles extending substantially over the entire length of a cooling coil section.
- any of said heat exchangers is equipped with a heat exchanger insert and wherein said gas/gas heat exchanger, said gas/refrigerant heat exchanger and/or said heat exchanger insert each are constructed as modules replaceable independently of each other.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Drying Of Gases (AREA)
- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
- Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
- Air Filters, Heat-Exchange Apparatuses, And Housings Of Air-Conditioning Units (AREA)
Abstract
The disclosed equipment provides for the flow of gas to be dried in a vertically downward direction through a precooling gas/gas heat exchanger and then in a vertically downward direction through a removable insert refrigerant cooling coil configuration of a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling. A filter removes impurities in the cooled gas extracted from the lower portion of the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger before it is recirculated through a removable insert pipe arrangement of the gas/gas heat exchanger. Such recirculation enables the cooled gas to precool newly admitted gas within the gas/gas heat exchanger. It also increases the temperature of the cooled gas by a prescribed magnitude before it is exhausted from the gas/gas heat exchanger for functional use.
Description
United States Patent Zander et al.
[ Aug. 12, 1975 [54] EQUIPMENT FOR DRYING GAS, IN 3,129,077 4/1964 Adams 165/143 X PARTICULAR AIR, BY REFRIGERATION 3,247,681 4/1966 Hankison et a1... 62/317 3,271,934 9/1966 Shields /269 Inven or rn Zander, ig; Bernt 3,541,807 11 1970 Henderson 62/93 xf fil day a" FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS of German), 1,202,252 8/1970 United Kingdom 55/269 Assigneei VIA G s llschaft fur Primary ExaminerAlbert W. Davis, Jr.
Verfahrenstechmk, Dusseldorf Assistant ExaminerSheldon Richter Germany Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frederick W. Padden [22] Filed: June 21, 1973 3 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 72333 The disclosed equipment provides for the flow of gas to be dried in a vertically downward direction through [30] Foreign Application Priority Data a precooling gas/ gas heat exchanger and then in a ver- July 1. 1972 Germany 2232386 tically downward direction through a removable insert refrigerant cooling'coil configuration of a gas/refriger- 52 us. (:1. 165/111; 55/269; 62/90; ant heat exchanger for Cooling. A filter removes p 2 9 62/272; 1 5 165/178 rities in the cooled gas extracted from the lower por- 51 Int. Cl F28b 1/00; F28f 9/26 tion of the gzls/rfifrirmrdnt heat exchanger before it is [58] Field of Search 62/90, 93, 272, 317; recirculated through a removable insert P p arrange- 165/I43, 163, 178 1 1 55/269 ment of the gas/gas heat exchanger. Such recirculation enables the cooled gas to precool newly admitted gas 56 1 References Cited within the gas/gas heat exchanger. It also increases the UNITED STATES PATENTS temperature of the cooled gas by a prescribed magni- 2 2 7 332 1 B t l ff t I 6 tude before it is exhausted from the gas/gas heat ex- I re 7. a e a 2,655,347 10 1953 Bielfeldt 55/269 changer for funct'onal 2,723,540 11/1955 Derr /144 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Q (Q L 1 ,0 .o .o figs 4 w, 5 7/ I \Q: O i 0 i i o o 84 o o I 80 0 6O 0 l 8 2 o PATENTEU AUG 1 2 I975 SHEET PATENTED AUG 1 2 ms SHEET EQUIPMENT FOR DRYING GAS, IN PARTICULAR AIR, BY REFRIGERATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to equipment for drying gas, such as air, by refrigeration and particularly to an equipment arrangement in which a gas to be dried flows successively through a gas/gas heat exchanger, a gas/refrigerant exchanger and subsequently again the gas/gas heat exchanger in a continuous loop.
As is known, the principle of drying gas by refrigeration is based upon the fact that the dew point of the gas to be dried is lowered so that humidity contained in the gas is separated, along with at least a portion of further impurities. l-Ieretofore, in prior art devices for drying gas by refrigeration the two heat exchanger columns are positioned in a horizontal direction so that due to the use of two different kinds of heat exchangers a satisfactory efficiency is achieved, however, as a result of the horizontal extension of the columns difficulties are encountered with regard to an efficient concentrated withdrawal of the separated humidity or impurities, respectively, as well as with regard to a suitable guidance of the gas or refrigerant flow because the force of gravity does not act upon the gas or refrigerant flow in the flow direction but rather in a direction transverse thereto.
It is known in the prior art to provide a device for separating humidity from wet gases or vapors wherein the gas flow to be cooled or refrigerated is guided through two cooling chambers in a vertical direction. Both chambers are connected in series and cooled by a common coolant flow. The gas to be cooled is passed through the first cooling chamber in a downward direction whereas it passes the second cooling chamber in an upward direction. Thus, the separated liquid, under the influence of the force of gravity, travels to the lower end of the cooling chambers from where the liquid may be readily withdrawn. However, the two prior art cooling chambers both are designed as gas/refrigerant heat exchangers whereas a gas/gas heat exchanger is not' present so that the overall efficiency is kept at a relatively low level.
Another known device differs from the abovedescribed prior art merely insofar as both cooling chambers are not disposed beside each other but one above the other so that substantially the same functional operations occur except for the considerably larger height of construction which in many cases may even be excessive.
It is an object of the present invention to improve such prior art devices for achieving both an efficient withdrawal of the condensate along with a suitable conduct of the gas and refrigerant flow and simultaneously a good efficiency with respect to the cooling of the gas to be dried.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objects are achieved by an equipment arrangement which advantageously positions both a gas/gas heat exchanger and a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger in vertical direction adjacent each other.
Due to such a structure and configuration of the device according to this invention the desired goal is reached, namely, that the height of the construction is low and the condensate accumulates in a concentrated area with the assistance of the force of gravity and, moreover, that the entire device exhibits a high cooling efficiency due to the refeeding of the gas cooled within the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger into the gas/ gas heat exchanger.
In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of this invention, a gas to be dried is processed vertically downward from an upper inlet to a lower outlet through a heat exchanger insert of a gas/gas heat exchanger device. The latter insert includes a plurality of pipes aligned vertically one above the other and in the downward path of the gas to be dried. Each of the pipes illustratively comprises a hollow inner portion extending longitudinally and in a horizontal plane with the insert. Each of the pipes supports cooling fins, or ribs, for cooling gas including the gas from the inlet. Advantageously, the hollow portion of selected ones of the pipes communicate with another inlet of the gas/gas heat exchanger for recirculating gas cooled by a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger through the gas/gas heat exchanger for precooling newly admitted gas to be dried and for upward against the force of gravity exhausting the cooled, or dried, gas to the exterior of the gas/gas heat exchanger for function use.
A gas/refrigerant heat exchanger is used for further cooling of gas received from the lower outlet of the gas/gas heat exchanger and then coupling the cooled gas through an impurities and separated liquid filter to the hollow portion of the pipes in the gas/gas heat exchanger. The gas/refrigerant heat exchanger also comprises an insert comprising a cooling coil network arrangement disposed in a vertically downward path of the gas flow from the gas/gas heat exchanger via an upper inlet and a lower outlet of the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger. The latter outlet is coupled to the filter for communicating the cooled gas thereto for removal of impurities.
In summary, the present invention provides for the flow of a gas to be dried in a vertically downward direction through a precooling gas/gas heat exchanger and thence in a vertically downward direction through a refrigerant cooling coil configurations of a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling. The processing continues by communicating the cooled gas through a filter for impurity removal and then by recirculating the purified cooled gas through a pipe arrangement of the gas/gas heat exchanger. Such recirculation enables the cooled gas to precool newly admitted gas within the gas/gas heat exchanger and thereby to increase the temperature of the cooled gas by a prescribed magnitude before it is exhausted from the gas/gas heat exchanger for functional use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The foregoing objects, features and advantages, as well as others of this invention, may become more clearly understood by a reading of the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a device for drying gas by refrigeration;
FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-section through the gas/- gas heat exchanger of FIG. 1, taken along line IIII;
FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-section through the refrigerant/gas heat exchanger of FIG. 1 taken along line III-III;
FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in section, of an insert for the refrigerant/gas heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the invention; and
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a refrigerating dryer according to one embodiment of this invention having a vertically extending gas/gas heat exchanger 12 as well as a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger 14 extending in parallel thereto.
The gas/gas heat exchanger 12 includes a cylindrical housing 16 enclosing a heat exchanger insert 18 of rectangular cross-section. Collars 20 are secured to the outer circumference of the insert 18 by means of which the insert 18 rests upon brackets 22 fastened to the interior surface of housing 16. As apparent in particular from FIG. 2, pipes 24 supporting cooling ribs 26 extend between two opposite sides of the insert 18 parallel above and besides each other.
At the upper end of the gas/gas heat exchanger 12 there is a stud-like inlet 28 through which the gas to be dried, preferably air, may enter. This gas is passed through the insert 18 in the direction indicated by arrow m, thereby flowing through the hollow spaces defined between pipes 24 and cooling ribs 26, respectively. From the lower end of the insert 18, the gas to be dried is passed on to a studlike outlet 30 through which it may escape from the gas/gas heat exchanger 12 as indicated with the S-shaped dashed line leading from outlet 30 to asubsequent inlet 40 of the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger 14.
Cooled gas as derived from the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger 14--the structure of which is explained in greater detail hereafter-is refed via a stud-like inlet 32 into the gas/gas heat exchanger 12 whereupon it enters the opposite free openings of pipes 24. The collar 20 adjacent inlet 32 prevents gas entering through inlet 32 from being applied to the whole group of pipes 24 simultaneously. Rather, merely those pipes 24 extending below the collar 20 adjacent inlet 32 are available to receive gas. Through this lower portion of pipes 24 the gas travels to the right side of the insert 18, in order to rise there to a maximum height determined by the collar 20 located at this side of insert 18, and to enter further pipes (not shown) corresponding to pipes 24 so that the gas flow is conducted through pipes 24 in an S-like configuration. The open ends of the upper pipes 24 communicate with a stud-like outlet 34 through which the dried gas may leave the refrigerating dryer 10. In the described embodiment according to FIG. 1, the gas flow is deviated twice, however, principally any other higher number of deviations may take place.
Gas/refrigerant heat exchanger 14 includes a heat exchanger insert 36 enclosed by a housing 38. Through the stud-like inlet 40 the gas supplied from gas/gas heat exchanger 12 may enter into the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger 14 in order to leave same upon passage of the heat exchanger insert 36 through a stud-like outlet 42 communicating with the inlet 32 of gas/gas heat exchanger 12.
A cooling coil generally designated 44 and having linear tube-like sections 46 is distributed over the entire height and width of insert 36 (cf. FIG. 3). Sections 46 traverse insert 36 in a similar manner as pipes 24 intersect insert 18, except that at their ends they are connected to subsequent sections 46 through U- connections 48, respectively. To increase the cooling action, the sections 46 may be surrounded by cooling ribs 50 as is conventional in the art. The beginning of cooling coil 54 communicates with an injection conduit 52 whereas the end of cooling coil 44 terminates in an exhaust conduit 54 so that the coolant may be pumped through cooling coil 44 in a continuous closed loop.
Between outlet 42 and inlet 32 a filter 56 may be interconnected which then advantageously is located at the coolest point of the gas flow to be dried and which thus may intercept separated liquid and impurities in a particularly effective manner.
The bottoms of the two heat exchangers may be provided with outlets 57 and 58, respectively, through which the liquid separated from the gas flow may be readily withdrawn as under the influence of the force of gravity it accumulates in the bottom area of the two heat exchangers and thus concentrates close to the two outlets 57 and 58, respectively.
Accordingly, the refrigerant dryer 10 according to this invention provides for a suitable withdrawal of the separated impurities and for a suitable course of the gas flow because it will always descend from warmer to cooler points and rises from cooler to warmer points, respectively. It also simultaneously guarantees good efficiency inasmuch as the cooled gas rising within the gas/gas heat exchanger 12 pre-cools the gas descending through insert 18 in direction of arrow m while the gas returning to outlet 34 through pipes 24 is pre-heated by the descending gas fiow thus having resumed a desired relatively high temperature level when exiting through outlet 34. In practice, the temperature distribution may be such that the entering gas is at a temperature of 35 C, whereas it leaves gas/ gas heat exchanger 12 at a temperature of about 20 C. Upon travel through insert 36 the gas flow may be at a temperature level of +2 C and that temperature may have been increased up to +25 C when the gas leaves gas/gas heat exchanger 12.
FIG. 4 shows a particularly advantageous embodiment of a heat exchanger insert of this invention having a structure differing from that of heat exchanger insert 36 of FIG. 1. This insert likewise exhibits a case 60 receiving cooling coil elements 62, 64 of substantially slice-like configuration and having cooling coil sections 66, 68 At their lower ends the individual slice-like cooling coil elements 62, 64 rest upon supports 70. At their ends, cooling coil elements 62, 64 terminate into U-bows 72 by means of which they communicate with a manifold 74 connecting cooling coil elements 62, 64 in parallel.
As evident from FIG. 4, each slice-like cooling coil element 62, 64 comprises a plurality of cooling coil sections 66, 68 bent backwards and forwards in S-shaped' Cooling coil elements 62, 64 adjacent each other may thus be interlaced with each other in a comb-like manner, so that a maximum filling factor for the volume is secured and immediately adjacent sections 66, 68 of neighboring cooling coil elements 62, 64
. may support each other mutually, thereby providing for a high mechanical stability of the entire cooling coil system. The mutual association of the sections of the cooling coil elements or of the cooling coil elements themselves is clearly illustrated in the lower portion of FIG. 5.
It will thus be possible to bend the individual cooling coil elements 62, 64 from one coherent tube so that it will be unnecessary to use separate additional connecting members at the points of return as this had been set forth in connection with FIG. 3. As will be understood that this kind of construction will yield a material cost saving because soldering or brazing operations are not required any more. Beyond that, reliability will be increased because leakages due to imperfact soldering work are impossible. Moreover it is warranted that the individual cooling coil elements do not exhibit any regions in which the refrigerant would have to flow in an upward direction. This avoids that impurities contained in the refrigerant such as oil which might separate in the course of the passage of the refrigerant through the cooling coil elements might settle within the cooling coil system. Rather, as the sections 66, 68 are continuously extending in a downward direction throughout any danger of a possible accumulation of impurities within a cooling coil element is removed. While refrigerants are available for which the occurrence of oil or other residues do not necessarily have an adverse effect, such refrigerants exhibit but a comparatively low cooling capacity.
While almost any hollow spaces between adjacent sections bent in a zig-zag-like manner and belonging to one cooling coil element are filled by corresponding neighboring sections, free hollow spaces remain between adjacent sections of the two outer cooling coil elements through which the gas to be dried might flow without sufficiently intensive contact with the cooling coil system.
Therefore, into at least a part of these hollow spaces baffles 86 may project which extend substantially over the entire length of sections 66, 68 and are fastened to the adjacent wall of case 60. These baffles 86 assure a close contact of the gas current with the cooling coil elements in the area of the outer hollow spaces, too.
In order to further enhance the rigidity of the system formed by cooling coil elements 62, 64, contiguous sections of adjacent cooling coil elements may be connected with each other for example by brazing, in particular in the point of return area. Similarly, the outer cooling coil elements may be affixed to case 60.
The refrigerating dryer according to this invention may be used for quantities on an order of magnitude of 3,000 m. The three major components of the refrigerating dryer, namely the gas/gas heat exchanger, the gas/refrigerant heat exchanger and the heat exchanger insert may be designed as modules which may be composed due to the prevailing operation conditions with regard to the amount of gas (air) to be conveyed and the desired temperatures, or which may be replaced by suitable larger or smaller similar modules when there is a change in the operation conditions.
What is claimed is:
1. In an apparatus for drying gas, in particular air, by refrigeration, including a gas/gas heat exchange and a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger, said exchangers extending with their longitudinal axes in a vertical direction, a heat exchanger insert for at least said gas/refrigerant exchanger, said heat exchanger insert comprising a plurality of cooling coil elements being connected in parallel and combined into a closed package and having a plurality of cooling coil sections being bent in their longitudinal direction backwards and forwards in an S-like configuration and extending in a horizontal direction substantially in parallel, said sections further alternating with regard to the cross-section of a cooling coil element in a zig-zag manner between a first and a second plane, adjacent cooling coil elements meshing with each other so that immediately neighboring sections of adjacent cooling coil elements provide for a mutual support.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said immediately neighboring sections of adjacent ones of said cooling coil elements are rigidly connected with each other.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein baffles are accommodated in free hollow spaces between neighboring sections of said cooling coil elements positioned at the outer sides of said cooling coil package, said baffles extending substantially over the entire length of a cooling coil section.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein any of said heat exchangers is equipped with a heat exchanger insert and wherein said gas/gas heat exchanger, said gas/refrigerant heat exchanger and/or said heat exchanger insert each are constructed as modules replaceable independently of each other.
Claims (4)
1. In an apparatus for drying gas, in particular air, by refrigeration, including a gas/gas heat exchange and a gas/refrigerant heat exchanger, said exchangers extending with their longitudinal axes in a vertical direction, a heat exchanger insert for at least said gas/refrigerant exchanger, said heat exchanger insert comprising a plurality of cooling coil elements being connected in parallel and combined into a closed package and having a plurality of cooling coil sections being bent in their longitudinal direction backwards and forwards in an S-like configuration and extending in a horizontal direction substantially in parallel, said sections further alternating with regard to the cross-section of a cooling coil element in a zigzag manner between a first and a second plane, adjacent cooling coil elements meshing with each other so that immediately neighboring sections of adjacent cooling coil elements provide for a mutual support.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said immediately neighboring sections of adjacent ones of said cooling coil elements are rigidly connected with each other.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein baffles are accommodated in free hollow spaces between neighboring sections of said cooling coil elements positioned at the outer sides of said cooling coil package, said baffles extending substantially over the entire length of a cooling coil section.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein aNy of said heat exchangers is equipped with a heat exchanger insert and wherein said gas/gas heat exchanger, said gas/refrigerant heat exchanger and/or said heat exchanger insert each are constructed as modules replaceable independently of each other.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE2232386A DE2232386C3 (en) | 1972-07-01 | 1972-07-01 | Device for cold drying of gas, in particular air |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3899023A true US3899023A (en) | 1975-08-12 |
Family
ID=5849413
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US372333A Expired - Lifetime US3899023A (en) | 1972-07-01 | 1973-06-21 | Equipment for drying gas, in particular air, by refrigeration |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3899023A (en) |
JP (1) | JPS4957450A (en) |
DE (1) | DE2232386C3 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2236547B1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB1419705A (en) |
IT (1) | IT986607B (en) |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3960992A (en) * | 1974-08-22 | 1976-06-01 | Cyrenne Henri Paul | Combination flue gas scrubber and heat exchanger unit |
US4027729A (en) * | 1973-07-13 | 1977-06-07 | Peter Bruhl | Device for chill-drying a gas |
US4186495A (en) * | 1976-11-30 | 1980-02-05 | Werner Frischmann | Apparatus for freeze drying of gas, especially compressed air |
US4221240A (en) * | 1978-09-29 | 1980-09-09 | Air Conditioning Corporation | Apparatus and method for absorbing moisture removed from fluid-jet loom |
US4235081A (en) * | 1978-10-31 | 1980-11-25 | Kellogg-American, Inc. | Compressed air dryer |
US4607489A (en) * | 1985-05-21 | 1986-08-26 | Mg Industries | Method and apparatus for producing cold gas at a desired temperature |
US4626387A (en) * | 1985-05-29 | 1986-12-02 | Leonard Oboler | Evaporative condenser with helical coils and method |
US4646819A (en) * | 1985-08-09 | 1987-03-03 | Monsanto Company | Apparatus for drying air |
US5101884A (en) * | 1989-06-30 | 1992-04-07 | Erno Raumfahrttechnik Gmbh | Evaporation heat exchanger, especially for a spacecraft |
US5275233A (en) * | 1993-01-25 | 1994-01-04 | Ingersoll-Rand Company | Apparatus for removing moisture from a hot compressed gas |
US5727623A (en) * | 1996-01-16 | 1998-03-17 | Orion Machinery Co., Ltd. | Dehumidifier having two heat exchangers |
EP0922483A1 (en) * | 1997-12-09 | 1999-06-16 | Manfred H. Langner | Process and device for dehumidifying exhaust air |
EP1015825A1 (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 2000-07-05 | American Precision Industries Inc | Precooler/chiller/reheater heat exchanger for air dryers |
US20090205354A1 (en) * | 2008-02-20 | 2009-08-20 | Applied Comfort Products Inc. | Frosting dehumidifier with enhanced defrost |
US20100212334A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2010-08-26 | Technologies Holdings Corp. | Enhanced Performance Dehumidification Apparatus, System and Method |
US20100275630A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2010-11-04 | Technologies Holdings Corp. | Defrost Bypass Dehumidifier |
CN103411448A (en) * | 2013-08-26 | 2013-11-27 | 常熟市高压容器制造有限公司 | Shell and tube heat exchanger system |
US11592238B2 (en) | 2017-11-23 | 2023-02-28 | Watergen Ltd. | Plate heat exchanger with overlapping fins and tubes heat exchanger |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4084944A (en) * | 1976-09-20 | 1978-04-18 | Ecodyne Corporation | Pure distillate recovery system |
DE2649020A1 (en) * | 1976-10-28 | 1978-05-11 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRYING AND COOLING OF GASES |
DE2654253C2 (en) * | 1976-11-30 | 1982-11-11 | VIA Gesellschaft für Verfahrenstechnik mbH, 4000 Düsseldorf | Device for cold drying of gas |
JPS586494Y2 (en) * | 1978-12-14 | 1983-02-04 | 日立電線株式会社 | Gaseous moisture removal equipment |
GB2138553A (en) * | 1983-04-14 | 1984-10-24 | Pentagon Radiators | Apparatus for conditioning compressed gas |
DE3320632A1 (en) * | 1983-06-08 | 1984-12-13 | Hoechst Ag, 6230 Frankfurt | HEAT EXCHANGER |
JPS61238322A (en) * | 1985-04-17 | 1986-10-23 | Toyo Tekko Kk | Dehumidifying apparatus |
AT400972B (en) * | 1985-11-08 | 1996-05-28 | Gossler Ewald | Method and apparatus for compressing gases |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2237332A (en) * | 1937-04-03 | 1941-04-08 | Walter H Bretzlaff | Air conditioning method and means |
US2655347A (en) * | 1950-10-11 | 1953-10-13 | Whiting Corp | Heat exchanger |
US2723540A (en) * | 1953-04-02 | 1955-11-15 | Int Harvester Co | Air conditioner condenser incorporating condensate disposal means thereon |
US3129077A (en) * | 1961-05-23 | 1964-04-14 | Renard P Adams | Gas purifying apparatus |
US3247681A (en) * | 1964-04-02 | 1966-04-26 | Hankison Corp | Gas cleaning apparatus |
US3271934A (en) * | 1962-06-11 | 1966-09-13 | Carrier Corp | Heat transfer apparatus having means to separate condensed liquid from the system fluid |
US3541807A (en) * | 1968-09-05 | 1970-11-24 | Joseph H Henderson | Air drying device |
-
1972
- 1972-07-01 DE DE2232386A patent/DE2232386C3/en not_active Expired
-
1973
- 1973-06-21 US US372333A patent/US3899023A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1973-06-28 IT IT68931/73A patent/IT986607B/en active
- 1973-06-30 JP JP48074300A patent/JPS4957450A/ja active Pending
- 1973-07-02 GB GB3133273A patent/GB1419705A/en not_active Expired
- 1973-07-02 FR FR7324129A patent/FR2236547B1/fr not_active Expired
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2237332A (en) * | 1937-04-03 | 1941-04-08 | Walter H Bretzlaff | Air conditioning method and means |
US2655347A (en) * | 1950-10-11 | 1953-10-13 | Whiting Corp | Heat exchanger |
US2723540A (en) * | 1953-04-02 | 1955-11-15 | Int Harvester Co | Air conditioner condenser incorporating condensate disposal means thereon |
US3129077A (en) * | 1961-05-23 | 1964-04-14 | Renard P Adams | Gas purifying apparatus |
US3271934A (en) * | 1962-06-11 | 1966-09-13 | Carrier Corp | Heat transfer apparatus having means to separate condensed liquid from the system fluid |
US3247681A (en) * | 1964-04-02 | 1966-04-26 | Hankison Corp | Gas cleaning apparatus |
US3541807A (en) * | 1968-09-05 | 1970-11-24 | Joseph H Henderson | Air drying device |
Cited By (23)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4027729A (en) * | 1973-07-13 | 1977-06-07 | Peter Bruhl | Device for chill-drying a gas |
US3960992A (en) * | 1974-08-22 | 1976-06-01 | Cyrenne Henri Paul | Combination flue gas scrubber and heat exchanger unit |
US4186495A (en) * | 1976-11-30 | 1980-02-05 | Werner Frischmann | Apparatus for freeze drying of gas, especially compressed air |
US4221240A (en) * | 1978-09-29 | 1980-09-09 | Air Conditioning Corporation | Apparatus and method for absorbing moisture removed from fluid-jet loom |
US4235081A (en) * | 1978-10-31 | 1980-11-25 | Kellogg-American, Inc. | Compressed air dryer |
US4607489A (en) * | 1985-05-21 | 1986-08-26 | Mg Industries | Method and apparatus for producing cold gas at a desired temperature |
US4626387A (en) * | 1985-05-29 | 1986-12-02 | Leonard Oboler | Evaporative condenser with helical coils and method |
WO1986007132A1 (en) * | 1985-05-29 | 1986-12-04 | Oboler, Leonard | Evaporative condenser with helical coils and method |
US4646819A (en) * | 1985-08-09 | 1987-03-03 | Monsanto Company | Apparatus for drying air |
US5101884A (en) * | 1989-06-30 | 1992-04-07 | Erno Raumfahrttechnik Gmbh | Evaporation heat exchanger, especially for a spacecraft |
US5275233A (en) * | 1993-01-25 | 1994-01-04 | Ingersoll-Rand Company | Apparatus for removing moisture from a hot compressed gas |
US5727623A (en) * | 1996-01-16 | 1998-03-17 | Orion Machinery Co., Ltd. | Dehumidifier having two heat exchangers |
EP1015825A1 (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 2000-07-05 | American Precision Industries Inc | Precooler/chiller/reheater heat exchanger for air dryers |
EP1015825A4 (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 2004-07-14 | American Prec Ind Inc | Precooler/chiller/reheater heat exchanger for air dryers |
EP0922483A1 (en) * | 1997-12-09 | 1999-06-16 | Manfred H. Langner | Process and device for dehumidifying exhaust air |
US20100212334A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2010-08-26 | Technologies Holdings Corp. | Enhanced Performance Dehumidification Apparatus, System and Method |
US20100275630A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2010-11-04 | Technologies Holdings Corp. | Defrost Bypass Dehumidifier |
US8316660B2 (en) | 2005-11-16 | 2012-11-27 | Technologies Holdings Corp. | Defrost bypass dehumidifier |
US8347640B2 (en) | 2005-11-16 | 2013-01-08 | Technologies Holdings Corp. | Enhanced performance dehumidification apparatus, system and method |
US8769969B2 (en) | 2005-11-16 | 2014-07-08 | Technologies Holdings Corp. | Defrost bypass dehumidifier |
US20090205354A1 (en) * | 2008-02-20 | 2009-08-20 | Applied Comfort Products Inc. | Frosting dehumidifier with enhanced defrost |
CN103411448A (en) * | 2013-08-26 | 2013-11-27 | 常熟市高压容器制造有限公司 | Shell and tube heat exchanger system |
US11592238B2 (en) | 2017-11-23 | 2023-02-28 | Watergen Ltd. | Plate heat exchanger with overlapping fins and tubes heat exchanger |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE2232386A1 (en) | 1974-01-10 |
DE2232386B2 (en) | 1979-12-20 |
FR2236547B1 (en) | 1978-10-20 |
IT986607B (en) | 1975-01-30 |
GB1419705A (en) | 1975-12-31 |
FR2236547A1 (en) | 1975-02-07 |
DE2232386C3 (en) | 1980-08-28 |
JPS4957450A (en) | 1974-06-04 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3899023A (en) | Equipment for drying gas, in particular air, by refrigeration | |
US3326280A (en) | Heat exchanger with baffle structure | |
US2596195A (en) | Heat exchanger for refrigerating systems | |
US4235081A (en) | Compressed air dryer | |
US4359329A (en) | Oil separator for compressors of heat pumps and chillers | |
FI76496B (en) | PLATARTAD FLERSTEGSANORDNING FOER UTFOERING AV TERMODYNAMISKA PROSESSER. | |
JPS6319794B2 (en) | ||
US4436146A (en) | Shell and tube heat exchanger | |
US2949119A (en) | Liquid handling apparatus | |
US2384413A (en) | Cooler or evaporator | |
US2084743A (en) | Heat exchanger | |
US2523529A (en) | Eliminator for refrigeration system evaporators | |
EP0067799A1 (en) | Direct expansion evaporator, particularly for water refrigeration | |
US4047562A (en) | Heat exchanger utilizing a vaporized heat-containing medium | |
US3911067A (en) | Direct contact gas condenser | |
US4134450A (en) | Surface condenser with vertically separated tube bundles | |
US2723109A (en) | Vapor to liquid heat exchanger | |
US3489650A (en) | Modular unit assembly for multi-stage flash distillation | |
GB2161256A (en) | Refrigerant evaporator for a refrigeration system | |
US3734174A (en) | Heat exchanger for compressed air | |
US2467741A (en) | Heat exchange apparatus | |
EP0067044B1 (en) | Heat exchanger | |
US1941650A (en) | Surface condenser | |
US3330739A (en) | Multi-cell flash distillation system | |
US3501382A (en) | Distillation-condenser with vertically disaligned tubes |