초록 ▼

A combination gas drying and reservoir apparatus includes a reservoir, a membrane dryer disposed inside the reservoir and a control scheme that reduces the amount of gas lost as sweep gas from the dryer. The reservoir has an inlet flange that receives moisture laden gas from a compressor, an outlet

A combination gas drying and reservoir apparatus includes a reservoir, a membrane dryer disposed inside the reservoir and a control scheme that reduces the amount of gas lost as sweep gas from the dryer. The reservoir has an inlet flange that receives moisture laden gas from a compressor, an outlet flange from which dried gas discharges to a pneumatic system and a purge flange. The dryer includes a vessel encasing a membrane unit between its inlet and outlet ends. A purge port of the vessel communicates with the purge flange to form a purge channel. The inlet end of the vessel is connected to the inlet flange from which it receives the moisture laden gas. The moisture laden gas then flows into the membrane unit. Sweep gas that has permeated through membranes flows from a sweep space defined between the vessel and the membrane unit to the purge channel. Dried gas flows out of the membrane unit through the outlet end of the vessel into the reservoir. The control scheme includes a purge valve and a mechanism for controlling the purge valve. Connected to the purge flange, the purge valve can be closed to prevent sweep gas from exhausting via the purge channel to atmosphere. When the compressor is unloaded, the mechanism closes the purge valve thereby preventing sweep gas from expelling into the atmosphere. When the compressor is loaded, the mechanism opens the purge valve thereby allowing sweep gas to exhaust into the atmosphere via the purge channel of the apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A combination gas drying and reservoir apparatus for a compressed gas system, said apparatus comprising:(a) a reservoir for storing dried compressed gas for use by said compressed gas system, said reservoir having an inlet flange for receiving moisture laden gas ultimatel

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A combination gas drying and reservoir apparatus for a compressed gas system, said apparatus comprising:(a) a reservoir for storing dried compressed gas for use by said compressed gas system, said reservoir having an inlet flange for receiving moisture laden gas ultimately from a compressor, an outlet flange for delivering said dried gas to said compressed gas system and a purge flange; and(b) a membrane gas dryer, disposed inside of said reservoir, for drying said moisture laden gas, said dryer including a vessel encasing a membrane unit disposed between an inlet end and an outlet end of said vessel such that (i) said moisture laden gas flows from said inlet flange through said inlet end into said membrane unit, (ii) sweep gas that has permeated through membranes of said membrane unit flows from a sweep space defined between said vessel and said membrane unit through a purge port of said vessel and through said purge flange of said reservoir with which said purge port communicates so that said permeate sweep gas expels from said apparatus into the atmosphere and (iii) said dried gas flows out of said membrane unit through said outlet end of said vessel into said reservoir.