초록 ▼

A mobile inert gas generator can include various components supported by a wheeled vehicle. The generator can include a feed air compressor, a separation device for separating an inert gas from a feed air gas, and a booster compressor, each of which can have various sensors and actuators for control

A mobile inert gas generator can include various components supported by a wheeled vehicle. The generator can include a feed air compressor, a separation device for separating an inert gas from a feed air gas, and a booster compressor, each of which can have various sensors and actuators for controlling the operation thereof. An electronic control system can be connected to the sensors and actuators to allow for convenient operation of the generator. The electronic control system can include a control panel disposed in a cab.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system configured to separate nitrogen from atmospheric air comprising: a feed air compressor unit having a screw compressor with an inlet and outlet driven by an air/fuel engine so as to compress atmospheric air to a pressure of at least 200 psi at the outlet of the screw

What is claimed is: 1. A system configured to separate nitrogen from atmospheric air comprising: a feed air compressor unit having a screw compressor with an inlet and outlet driven by an air/fuel engine so as to compress atmospheric air to a pressure of at least 200 psi at the outlet of the screw compressor; a filtration assembly comprising at least first, second, third, and fourth coalescence filters supported on a filter frame, the first, second, and third coalescence filters being connected in series with an inlet of the first coalescence filter connected to the outlet of the screw compressor, the first, second, third, and fourth coalescence filters disposed adjacent to each other on the filter frame; a carbon tower filter having an inlet communicating with an outlet of the third coalescence filter and an outlet of the carbon tower filter being connected to an inlet of the fourth coalescence filter, the carbon tower filter being disposed in a position that is not spatially between the third and fourth coalescence filters; a heater device having an inlet connected to an outlet of the third coalescence filter and an outlet connected to an inlet of the carbon tower filter; a membrane separation assembly having a plurality of membrane separation devices arranged in at least first and second vertical stacks, at least first and second vertical members supporting the first and second vertical stacks, at least the first vertical member defining either an inlet or an outlet manifold of a plurality of the membrane separation devices, and inlet of the membrane separation assembly being connected to an outlet of the fourth coalescence filter and being configured to distribute a filtered gas from the fourth coalescence filter to inlets of a plurality of the membrane separation devices, the heater device and being supported by at least one of the first and second vertical members; a booster compressor having an inlet connected to an outlet of the membrane separation assembly and configured to raise a pressure of nitrogen rich gas discharged from the membrane separation assembly, the booster compressor having an engine driving a compressor device having an outlet, the compressor device being configured to raise a pressure of the nitrogen rich gas to at least 1000 psi; and a control cab having an electronic control system comprising at least a first sensor being configured to detect an operational parameter of the feed air compressor, at least a second sensor being configured to detect an operational parameter of the membrane separation assembly, and at least a third sensor configured to detect an operational parameter of the booster compressor, the electronic control system comprising an electronic control unit connected to the first second and third sensors and configured to allow an operator of the electronic control system to monitor the output of the first, second, and third sensors; and a wheeled vehicle supporting the feed air compressor, the filtration assembly, the carbon tower filter, the heater device, the membrane separation assembly, the booster compressor, and the control cab. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wheeled vehicle comprises a trailer configured to be towed on a highway. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wheeled vehicle comprises a flatbed truck. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the engines of the feed air compressor and the booster compressor is also configured to provide shaft power to at least one wheel of the flatbed truck. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wheeled vehicle comprises at least one pair of wheels, and wherein the booster compressor and the feed air compressor are disposed on opposite sides of the at least one pair of wheels. 6. The system according to claim 1 additionally comprising an auxiliary sensor input port configured to be connected to a sensor disposed external to and is not supported by the wheeled vehicle. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control system comprises a graphical user interface having at least first, second, and third screens, the first screen being configured to display data indicative of the output of the first sensor, the second screen being configured to display data indicative of the output of the second sensor, and the third screen being configured to display data indicative of the output of the third sensor. 8. The system according to claim 1 additionally comprising a heater system configured to circulate lubricant from at least one of the feed air compressor and the booster compressor to the heater device. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet of the screw compressor is connected to an exhaust outlet of the air fuel engine. 10. A system configured to separate a component gas from atmospheric air comprising: a plurality of membrane separation devices supported by at least first and second generally vertical members, at least one of the generally vertical members defining an intake or discharge manifold for the plurality of membrane separation devices; a heater device supported by at least one of the first and second generally vertical members; and a filtering device connected, in series, between the heater device and one of the plurality of membrane separation devices. 11. The system according to claim 10 additionally comprising a feed air compressor configured to pressurize atmospheric air and deliver the pressurized atmospheric air to an inlet of the plurality of membrane separation devices. 12. The system according to claim 11 additionally comprising a booster compressor configured to raise a pressure of the inert gas discharged from the plurality of membrane separation devices.