Gas separation: processes – Solid sorption – Moving sorbent
Patent
1994-01-12
1995-08-22
Bushey, C. Scott
Gas separation: processes
Solid sorption
Moving sorbent
55269, 55338, 55472, 95115, 95124, 95288, 96150, B01D 4100
Patent
active
054436249
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of increasing the yield of an air-drying process in which fan-driven process air delivered to a dehumidifier is dehumidified and dried during a heat-exchange process with hot regenerating air.
The invention also relates to apparatus for carrying out the method.
One problem with methods and apparatus of this kind is that the moisture present in the wet air flow must be extracted and led away. This can normally be achieved by passing the wet air-flow to a room or to the surroundings, for example with the aid of a hose. There are cases, however, when this known technique can only be applied with difficulty and at relatively high costs, for instance when cellar air or the air in a bank vault shall be dehumidified and dried.
This problem is normally solved by connecting a condenser to a dehumidifier.
In principle, a condenser is a heat-exchanger in which wet air is brought into heat-exchange contact with cold air, therewith extracting and collecting the moisture in the wet air while heating the cold air delivered to the heat exchanger.
In practice, the wet air that exits from the dehumidifier may have a temperature of about 35.degree. C. and may also contain a large amount of moisture. The cold air used is air at room temperature, e.g. 20.degree. C., which causes the moisture in the wet, warm regenerating air delivered to the heat-exchanger to condense on the other side of the heat-exchanger.
The dehumidified air is then passed back to the dehumidifier, in which it is heated and used to regenerate the wet rotor.
STATE OF THE ART
In known methods and apparatus of this kind, the condenser/heat-exchanger unit is completely separate from the dehumidifier. The condenser/heat-exchanger unit may thus have a separate cold-air fan and also a separate electric plug or like connector, etc. These two units are relatively bulky and heavy to handle, even when having a relatively limited capacity.
The cost of one such condenser together with associated conduits is also high, and a system of relatively limited capacity will, today, cost at least $1,300.
One example of the present standpoint of techniques is described in SE,B,335.323 (Munters). According to the teachings of this publication, the energy is not delivered to the air to be dried, but to a separate cooling fluid.
Another method and apparatus herefor are described in GB,B,1.400.255 (British Titan). This method utilizes, among other things, first and second columns, a condenser, a fan, and a heater in a drying process. As in the former case, energy is not delivered from the wet air to the process air to be dried.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus by means of which an increase in the yield of the energy delivered to the process can be achieved and which will also facilitate handling of the apparatus components.
Another object is to provide process-air drying apparatus which has fewer components than known apparatus intended for the same purpose, and which has a simpler and more compact construction than previously known apparatus of this kind.
Another object of the invention is to provide an air-drying method and air-drying apparatus in which regeneration air departing from a dehumidifier is used more economically than is the case in earlier known methods and apparatus of the aforesaid kind.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are fulfilled by an inventive method having generally the characteristic features set forth below.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, the process air to be dried is heated with the aid of energy delivered from the wet regenerating air. Consequently, the dry air that exits from the dehumidifier will have a relative moisture content that is substantially lower than the moisture content of air dried by a conventional drying method.
The inventive method is also much more economical than the known methods, partly because of the improved heat economy, but also because the inventive drying process can be
REFERENCES:
patent: 3490201 (1970-01-01), Colvin et al.
patent: 3847578 (1974-11-01), Munters
patent: 4342569 (1982-08-01), Hussmann
patent: 4729774 (1988-03-01), Cohen et al.
patent: 5170633 (1992-12-01), Kaplan
Bushey C. Scott
Corroventa Avfuktning AB
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