초록 ▼

An improved drying system is provided for removing moisture from gases such that a sufficiently dry gaseous sample is available for accurate analyses of the constituent components. The drying system includes a series of selectively permeable drying tubes or tube bundles located in a shell, where the

An improved drying system is provided for removing moisture from gases such that a sufficiently dry gaseous sample is available for accurate analyses of the constituent components. The drying system includes a series of selectively permeable drying tubes or tube bundles located in a shell, where the moisture is removed from the gaseous sample via an ionic channel that extends through the tubing walls. The selectively permeable drying tubes allow water vapor to pass through the tube walls, but prevent the adsorption of most other gases. The sample gas is drawn through the tubes, and dried air is made to pass past the tubes in a counterflow direction. The first stage of the selectively permeable drying tubes is heated to raise the dew point of the gas stream, while the later stage is cooled in order to enhance the drying efficiency of the system. In this fashion, water vapor is removed from the gaseous sample stream in a more efficient manner than is presently available.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for removing water from a sample gas stream, comprising:a plurality of drying tubes coupled together in series, each one of said plurality of drying tubes further having a first flow path for sample gas and a second flow path for purge gas, said sample gas stream passing through said fir

1. A device for removing water from a sample gas stream, comprising:a plurality of drying tubes coupled together in series, each one of said plurality of drying tubes further having a first flow path for sample gas and a second flow path for purge gas, said sample gas stream passing through said first flow path of each one of said plurality of drying tubes in series; a cooling chamber having an interior volume maintained at a reduced temperature relative to an ambient temperature of said sample gas stream, at least one of said plurality of drying tubes being disposed in said cooling chamber; and a purge air source providing a supply of dried air, said purge air source being coupled to said plurality of drying tubes such that dried air passes through said second flow path of each one of said plurality of drying tubes in series; wherein, said cooling chamber reduces temperature of said sample gas stream to an approximate dew point of the sample gas to increase drying efficiency of said plurality of drying tubes.