Device and method for drying compressed gas

Abstract

There is provided a device for drying compressed gas, the device (1) being provided with an inlet (2) and an outlet (3), and a container (6a, 6b) with a renewable desiccant and a valve system (7) connecting the inlet (2) and the outlet (3) to the container (6a, 6b), the device (1) being provided with a regeneration line (9a) for supplying regeneration gas and provided with a regeneration line (9b) for discharging regeneration gas, a regeneration line (9a, 9b) is connectable to the blow-out opening (13) or to the outlet (11) of the blower (12) for supplying ambient air, an additional container (15) having a heat storage material is incorporated into the regeneration line (9a), a line (17) connecting the inlet (18) of the blower (12) to the first regeneration line (9a) is provided, in which line (17) a closable first valve (19) is arranged, the device (1) is provided with a second valve (20) in the regeneration line (9a).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for drying compressed gas.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention aims to improve the efficiency of a device for drying compressed gas, making the device less dependent on environmental parameters and more reliable. Background Art

[0003] Devices for drying compressed gas (such as those known from BE2021 / 5615) are known, which are provided with an inlet for the compressed gas to be dried and an outlet for the dried compressed air, wherein the drying device comprises at least two containers containing a renewable desiccant and an adjustable valve system, the adjustable valve system comprising a first valve block and a second valve block connecting the inlet and the outlet to the containers respectively, wherein the adjustable valve system is configured such that at least one container can dry the compressed gas while the other container is being regenerated and cooled, and by means of the control valve system, the containers can each in turn dry the compressed gas.

[0004] A renewable desiccant here refers to a desiccant or dehumidifier that can absorb moisture from a gas by adsorption and can be dried by passing a so-called regeneration gas through the desiccant or dehumidifier when saturated with moisture. This process is also referred to as the regeneration of the desiccant. The regeneration gas is usually a hot gas.

[0005] Although the adsorption principle is involved here, the present invention is also applicable to the absorption principle.

[0006] When a container is drying, it will absorb moisture from the compressed gas being dried, thus saturating the desiccant. This means that it can absorb little moisture or no additional moisture.

[0007] Then, a hot gas (the regeneration gas, e.g., hot air) is typically passed through the container to regenerate the container. The hot gas will extract the moisture from the desiccant and regenerate the desiccant.

[0008] Then the container can optionally be cooled before using it again to dry the compressed gas. After regeneration, the desiccant will have been heated. By cooling the desiccant in the container before using the container for drying again, the desiccant will be able to extract moisture more efficiently.

[0009] For the regeneration of the container, the device known from BE2021 / 5615 is also provided with: a first regeneration line provided with a heating member for supplying a regeneration gas to the container being regenerated; and a second regeneration line for discharging the saturated regeneration gas, wherein the first regeneration line and the second regeneration line are each connected to a different valve block, and wherein the first regeneration line and the second regeneration line can each be connected to a blow-out opening or the outlet of a blower etc. for supplying ambient air, and vice versa.

[0010] The blower will be able to supply ambient air which is heated by the heating member before being sent to the container being regenerated via the second valve block.

[0011] After passing through the container being regenerated, the saturated regeneration air will leave the device via the second regeneration line and the blow-out opening.

[0012] This known device has the following specific feature: an additional container for accommodating a regenerable desiccant is incorporated into the first regeneration line between the blow-out opening or the blower and the heating member.

[0013] The advantage is that during the regeneration of the relevant container being regenerated, the ambient air will pass through the additional container before being heated.

[0014] All ambient moisture will be extracted by the desiccant in the additional container, so that the completely dry ambient air can be used for regeneration. This will ensure more efficient regeneration.

[0015] Then the regenerated container is cooled first.

[0016] For this purpose, the first regeneration line is connected to the blow-out opening, and the second regeneration line is connected to the blower.

[0017] The blower now conveys the refrigerant gas through the second regeneration line and then through the regenerated container, wherein the desiccant is cooled by means of the refrigerant gas.

[0018] The refrigerant gas will leave the device via the first regeneration line, the additional container and the blow-out opening.

[0019] This means that the heat from the regenerated container will be conveyed to the additional container via the cooling gas, and the desiccant in the additional container will thereby be regenerated.

[0020] A disadvantage of such a device is that a relatively large amount of the heat generated by the heating member (for heating the regeneration gas) is lost during the cooling of the container and is not reused. In addition, the cooling is a so-called open-loop cooling, where the ambient air is blown out after passing through the cooled container once to release the dissipated heat. Since the ambient air is not dry air, this means that during the cooling, the desiccant will become somewhat saturated by the moisture from the ambient air. Summary of the Invention

[0021] The present invention aims to provide a solution to at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages and other disadvantages.

[0022] The present invention relates to a device for drying compressed gas, wherein the device is provided with an inlet for the compressed gas to be dried and an outlet for the dried compressed gas, wherein the drying device includes at least two containers containing a renewable desiccant and an adjustable valve system, the adjustable valve system including a first valve block and a second valve block that respectively connect the inlet and the outlet to the containers, wherein the adjustable valve system is configured such that at least one container can dry the compressed gas while other containers are being regenerated and cooled, and such that through the control valve system, each container can sequentially dry the compressed gas, wherein the device is further provided with: a first regeneration pipeline provided with a heating member for supplying regeneration gas to the container being regenerated; and a second regeneration pipeline for discharging the saturated regeneration gas, wherein the first regeneration pipeline and the second regeneration pipeline are each connected to a different valve block, wherein the first regeneration pipeline and the second regeneration pipeline can respectively be connected to a blow-out opening or to the outlet of a blower, etc. for supplying ambient air, or vice versa, characterized in that between the blow-out opening or the blower and the heating member in the first regeneration pipeline, an additional container is incorporated or heat-transferably coupled, the additional container containing a heat storage material, and provided with a pipeline that connects the inlet of the blower to a point in the first regeneration pipeline between the blow-out opening or the blower and the additional container, wherein in this pipeline, a closable first valve is arranged, and wherein the device is provided with a second valve in the first regeneration pipeline between the point and the blow-out opening or the blower.

[0023] The advantage is that when cooling a specific container being cooled, the heat from the regenerated container will be transported to the additional container via the cooling gas, and the heat storage material in the additional container will be heated during this process.

[0024] In other words: the additional container will store the heat originally from the heating member to heat the regeneration gas. In this way, up to 20% of the heat can be recovered.

[0025] In subsequent cycles, when the container being regenerated is regenerated, ambient air will pass through the additional container before being heated.

[0026] This will heat the ambient air, which means that the heating device does not have to be heated as high, which in turn means that it can be smaller in size.

[0027] Another advantage is that the pipeline allows for so-called closed-loop cooling, where ambient air passes through the container being cooled and the additional container via a closed loop.

[0028] Since new ambient air is not used all the time, no more ambient moisture is continuously transported to the container being cooled.

[0029] In other words, ambient air and thus moisture are not sucked in by the blower, so that the container is not pre-loaded with moisture during the cooling process.

[0030] The heat storage material in the additional container stores the heat from the container being cooled, so that the circulating ambient air cools down after passing through the container being cooled.

[0031] Due to the presence of the additional container with the heat storage material, it is not necessary to blow out the heated ambient air after passing through the container being cooled to release the heat.

[0032] The heat storage material here refers to a material with a high heat capacity.

[0033] In a practical embodiment, the additional container is incorporated into the first regeneration pipeline and houses a solid heat storage material, such as, for example, basalt.

[0034] The advantage of basalt is that it has a very high volumetric heat capacity and can be provided in the additional container in particulate form, so that air can easily flow through it.

[0035] Alternatively, the additional container houses a liquid heat storage material, such as, for example, oil, and the additional container is heat-transferably connected to the first regeneration pipeline by means of a liquid circuit, which has a heat exchanger incorporated into the first regeneration pipeline.

[0036] It is also possible to use a liquid heat storage material, in which case the liquid heat storage material circulates through a liquid circuit that includes a heat exchanger through which the liquid heat storage material can flow and which is incorporated into the regeneration pipeline to ensure heat transfer between, on the one hand, the regeneration gas and the cooling gas and, on the other hand, the heat storage material.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the additional container is provided with a member for supplying external heat to the heat storage material.

[0038] "External" here means heat that does not originate from the device, for example, in the form of steam.

[0039] These components allow for the recovery of heat that would otherwise be lost in the heat storage material.

[0040] It is not excluded that these components can also remove heat from the additional container.

[0041] In a practical embodiment, the additional container is thermally insulated.

[0042] For example, this thermal insulation can take the form of an insulating coating on the inner and / or outer side of the additional container and / or a layer of insulating material filling the additional container.

[0043] The advantage of this is that the heat temporarily terminated in the additional container during the cooling phase is stored as optimally as possible.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the device is provided with a closable branch line for the compressed dried gas, which extends from the outlet to a point between the heating component and the additional container of the first regeneration line, wherein an expansion component for the compressed dried gas is provided in the branch line.

[0045] "Closable" means, for example, that a component is provided in the branch line that allows the branch line to be closed so that gas cannot flow through the branch line, such as a closable valve.

[0046] The branch line will allow a portion of the compressed dried gas to be used as the regeneration gas instead of ambient air.

[0047] After regeneration with ambient air, as described above, a second regeneration phase can be started, in which the compressed dry gas is branched, expanded and then conveyed via the heating component to the container being regenerated to regenerate the desiccant.

[0048] Due to the expansion and heating components, the gas will be very hot and also very dry. This will greatly improve the regeneration and a very low dew point of the device and the compressed dried gas will be obtained.

[0049] The present invention also relates to a method for drying compressed gas, wherein the method comprises the step of passing the compressed gas to be dried through a renewable desiccant to extract moisture from the gas to be dried, wherein the desiccant is saturated with the extracted moisture, and wherein the method further comprises the step of regenerating the saturated first desiccant by passing a regeneration gas through the saturated first desiccant, wherein the dried and heated ambient air is used as the regeneration gas, and is characterized in that the method comprises the step of heating the ambient air by passing the ambient air through a heated heat storage material before passing the ambient air through the saturated desiccant to regenerate the desiccant, wherein the method comprises the step of cooling the regenerated desiccant by passing the ambient air through the regenerated desiccant, wherein the ambient air is heated, and wherein the method further comprises the step of passing the heated ambient air through the heat storage material to heat the heat storage material.

[0050] The advantages of this method are similar to those described above for the device.

[0051] Preferably, the method is carried out using a device according to the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] In order to better illustrate the characteristics of the present invention, some preferred embodiments of the device and method for drying compressed gas according to the present invention are described below by way of example and without any limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0053] Figure 1 A device for drying compressed gas according to the present invention is schematically shown;

[0054] Figure 2 and Figure 3 shows Figure 1 a variant of the layout of. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Figure 1 The device 1 for drying compressed gas shown in comprises an inlet 2 for the compressed gas to be dried and an outlet 3 for the dried compressed gas.

[0056] In Figure 1 the example of, the inlet 2 is connected to the outlet 4 of a compressor 5.

[0057] The device 1 further comprises two containers 6a, 6b containing a renewable desiccant.

[0058] For the present invention, it is not excluded that the device 1 comprises more than two such containers 6a, 6b.

[0059] The device 1 further comprises an adjustable valve system 7, which comprises a first valve block 8a and a second valve block 8b.

[0060] The first valve block 8a will connect the containers 6a, 6b to the inlet 2 for the compressed gas to be dried, while the second valve block 8b will connect the containers 6a, 6b to the outlet 3 for the dried compressed gas.

[0061] The valve blocks 8a, 8b are systems of different pipelines and valves, which can be controlled such that at least one of the containers 6a, 6b is always regenerated and then cooled, while the other container 6a, 6b or other containers 6a, 6b dry the compressed gas, and wherein the containers 6a, 6b will each in turn dry the compressed gas by means of the control valve system 7.

[0062] According to the invention, the device 1 further comprises a first regeneration pipeline 9a for supplying regeneration gas to the containers 6a, 6b being regenerated and a second regeneration pipeline 9b for discharging the saturated regeneration gas.

[0063] The first regeneration pipeline 9a and the second regeneration pipeline 9b are each connected to different valve blocks 8a, 8b.

[0064] In Figure 1 In the example shown, the first regeneration pipeline 9a is connected to the second valve block 8b and the second regeneration pipeline 9b is connected to the first valve block 8a, but this can also be reversed.

[0065] The heating member 10 is incorporated into the first regeneration pipeline 9a to heat the regeneration gas before it enters and flows through the containers 6a, 6b being regenerated.

[0066] In this case, these heating members 10 include electric heaters, but it is not excluded that these include steam heaters or heat exchangers incorporated into the first regeneration pipeline 9a.

[0067] The heating member 10 can also include a heat exchanger that uses the compression heat of the compressor 5 to heat the regeneration gas.

[0068] Both the first regeneration pipeline 9a and the second regeneration pipeline 9b can be connected to the outlet 11 or the blowing opening 13 of the blower 12.

[0069] The blower 12 is used to be able to suck in ambient air. Of course, it is not excluded that other devices for sucking in ambient air are provided instead of the blower 12.

[0070] The first regeneration pipeline 9a is connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12 and the second regeneration pipeline 9b is connected to the blowing opening 13, and vice versa, that is, the second regeneration pipeline 9b is connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12 and the first regeneration pipeline 9a is connected to the blowing opening 13.

[0071] Although a blower 12 and a blowing opening 13 may be provided for each of the regeneration pipelines 9a, 9b and a switching member for switching between them may be provided, in the Figure 1 example of Figure 1 , a valve device in the form of a four-way valve 14 is selected for the apparatus 1 in order to achieve a more compact design.

[0072] However, such a compact valve device does not necessarily have to be equipped with the four-way valve 14.

[0073] The valve gear preferably includes one or more of the following components:

[0074] - a four-way valve (14);

[0075] - a three-way valve;

[0076] - a butterfly valve;

[0077] - an on / off valve.

[0078] The valve device may include, for example, four individual butterfly valves, four individual on / off valves or two three-way valves.

[0079] Via the four-way valve 14, the first regeneration pipeline 9a and the second regeneration pipeline 9b can be connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12 and the blowing opening 13 respectively, and vice versa.

[0080] For this purpose, one connection point of the four-way valve 14 is connected to the first regeneration pipeline 9a, one connection point is connected to the second regeneration pipeline 9b, one connection point is connected to the blowing opening 13, and one connection point is connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12.

[0081] By switching the four-way valve 14, it is possible to select which one of the two regeneration pipelines 9a, 9b is connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12 and which one is connected to the blowing opening 13.

[0082] Figure 1 The situation of the position of the four-way valve 14 is shown, in which the first regeneration pipeline 9a is connected to the blowing opening 13.

[0083] Here, in this position of the four-way valve 14, the apparatus 1 allows the ambient air inhaled by the blower 12 to enter the container 6b being cooled via the four-way valve 14, the second regeneration pipeline 9b and the first valve block 8a.

[0084] Of course, the valve system 7 is appropriately controlled to allow the correct flow path of the ambient air.

[0085] When the four-way valve 14 is switched, the first regeneration pipeline 9a will be connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12.

[0086] Here, the device 1 enables, at this position of the four-way valve 14, the ambient air sucked in by the blower 12 to enter the container 6b being regenerated via the four-way valve 14, the first regeneration pipeline 9a, and the second valve block 8b.

[0087] Here, the valve system 7 is also appropriately controlled to allow the correct flow path of the ambient air.

[0088] According to the present invention, the additional container 15 is incorporated into the first regeneration pipeline 9a between the blow-out opening 13 or the blower 12 and the heating member 10.

[0089] In this additional container 15, a heat storage material is arranged. In this case, the material relates to basalt in particulate form.

[0090] In addition, in this case, but not necessarily, the additional container 15 is packaged in the insulating material 16 to thermally insulate the additional container.

[0091] Alternatively, the additional container 15 can also be thermally insulated by means of an insulating coating on the inner side and / or the outer side of the additional container 15.

[0092] According to the present invention, the device is further provided with a pipeline 17 that connects the inlet 18 of the blower 12 to a point P on the first regeneration pipeline 9a located between the blow-out opening 13 of the blower 12 and the additional container 15.

[0093] A closable first valve 19 is provided in this pipeline 17.

[0094] In addition, the device 1 is provided with a second valve 20 in the first regeneration pipeline 9a between the point P and the blow-out opening 13 or the blower 12. This valve 20 can also be located on the blow-out opening 13, that is, the blow-out opening 13 is provided with the valve 20.

[0095] When the containers 6a, 6b are cooled, this pipeline 17 will be used to form a closed circuit.

[0096] In this case, the device 1 is further provided with a first temperature sensor 21a at a position between the heating member 10 and the containers 6a, 6b being regenerated, and in this case, but not necessarily, a second temperature sensor 21b at a position in the second regeneration pipeline 9b.

[0097] In this case, the second valve 20 is an adjustable valve and is controlled by the control unit 22 based on the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor 21a and / or the second temperature sensor 21b.

[0098] The control unit 22 will also control the closable first valve 19.

[0099] The operation of the compressed gas drying device 1 is very simple and is as follows.

[0100] During the operation of the device 1, the compressed gas to be dried will enter the drying container 6a via the inlet 2 and through the proper control of the valve system 7.

[0101] In Figure 1 and Figure 2 example, the left - hand side container 6a will dry the compressed gas.

[0102] As it passes through this left - hand side container 6a, the desiccant will extract moisture from the gas.

[0103] The dried compressed gas will leave the device 1 through the outlet 3.

[0104] By properly controlling the valve system 7, the correct flow path of the compressed gas to be dried is achieved.

[0105] The other (in this case the right - hand side) container 6b, which has dried the gas during a previous cycle or stage, contains moisture and is being regenerated during this period.

[0106] In this case, a regeneration cycle is used, which includes heating ambient air and passing it through the relevant container 6b and then blowing it out.

[0107] For this purpose, the four - way valve 14 is positioned in the correct position.

[0108] The blower 12 will suck in ambient air, which will enter the additional container 15 via the four - way valve 14.

[0109] Here, the ambient air will be heated by the heat accumulated during the previous stage and then further heated by the heating member 10 if necessary.

[0110] The heated ambient air will now be directed via the second valve block 8b to the right - hand side container 6b to regenerate the desiccant in this container 6b.

[0111] After passing through the container 6b, the desiccant in this container 6b will not only be dried but also heated.

[0112] The ambient air will then leave the device 1 via the first valve block 8a, the four - way valve 14, and the blow - out opening 13.

[0113] Now, the right - hand side container 6b has been regenerated (i.e., the moisture has been removed from the desiccant) and heated.

[0114] To ensure that this container 6b can optimally dry the compressed gas in subsequent cycles or steps, the container is first cooled.

[0115] After all, the cold desiccant can dry better than the hot desiccant.

[0116] For this purpose, the four-way valve 14 is switched to the correct position, as Figure 1 shown.

[0117] The state or position of the valve system 7 is not changed, so that the left-hand side container 6a can still dry the compressed gas during this period.

[0118] By switching the four-way valve 14, the ambient air sucked in by the blower 12 will now reach the container 6b via the first valve block 8a and remove heat from this container 6b.

[0119] The now heated ambient air enters the additional container 15 via the second valve block 8b and the heater 10.

[0120] The heated ambient air will now heat the additional container 15, i.e., the heat extracted from the container 6b is stored in the heat storage material of the additional container 15.

[0121] Due to this process, the right-hand side container 6b will be cooled and the heat storage material in the additional container 15 will be heated.

[0122] Due to the provided insulation 16, all this heat will be optimally stored in the additional container 15. It should be noted that this insulation 16 is not essential for the present invention.

[0123] After the ambient air releases its heat into the additional container 15, it will be guided back via the pipeline 19 to the inlet 18 of the blower 12.

[0124] In other words, it will not be blown out but recycled.

[0125] To achieve this closed circuit, the control unit 22 will appropriately control the closable first valve 19 and second valve 20, in this case by opening valve 19 and closing valve 20.

[0126] When the first temperature sensor 21a or the second temperature sensor 21b measures a temperature higher than that which the blower 12 can withstand, the control unit 22 will close the closable valve 19 and open the second valve 20. This causes the ambient air to be blown out via the blow-out opening 13 after passing through the additional container 15, and the blower 12 will continuously suck in new ambient air to cool the container 6a.

[0127] At the end of this cooling step, the desiccant in the left-hand side container 6a will be saturated, and this container will be ready for regeneration, while the right-hand side container 6b is now ready to dry the compressed gas.

[0128] By controlling or switching the valve system 7, it is now ensured that the compressed gas to be dried is finally in the right-hand side container 6b for drying.

[0129] Meanwhile, the left - hand side container 6a will be regenerated in a similar manner as in the previous step.

[0130] Here, the four - way valve 14 will be set to the first position.

[0131] The blower 12 will suck in ambient air, which will finally be in the additional container 15.

[0132] Here, the ambient air will be heated by the heat stored in the heat - storage material.

[0133] Thus, the dried and pre - heated ambient air will enter the heating member 10 via the first regeneration pipeline 9a.

[0134] Since the ambient air has been pre - heated, the heating member 10 will have to be set lower, resulting in a lower maximum temperature that the heating member 10 has to provide.

[0135] In addition, the regeneration and subsequent cooling of the container 6a are carried out in the same manner as described above for the right - hand side container 6b.

[0136] After the cooling of the left - hand side container 6a, the right - hand side container 6b will be saturated and the containers can be exchanged again.

[0137] Then, the whole cycle repeats itself from the beginning.

[0138] Of course, it is not excluded to use the control unit 22 to control the heating member 10.

[0139] The control unit 22 can control the heating member 10 based on the temperature sensors 21a and / or 21b.

[0140] Although in the illustrated and described examples, there are only two containers 6a, 6b, it is not excluded that there are more than two containers 6a, 6b. In this case, at least one of the containers 6a, 6b will always dry the compressed gas.

[0141] For example, there can be six containers 6a, 6b, where three of the containers 6a, 6b will dry the compressed gas, two of the containers 6a, 6b will be regenerated and one of the containers 6a, 6b will be cooled.

[0142] Figure 2 An alternative embodiment is shown.

[0143] In this case, the additional container 15 contains a liquid heat - storage material, for example, such as oil.

[0144] In addition, it is not incorporated into the regeneration pipeline 9a, but is thermally connected to the regeneration pipeline by means of a liquid circuit 23.

[0145] In addition to the additional container 15, the liquid circuit 23 also includes a heat exchanger 24 which is incorporated into the first regeneration line 9a.

[0146] Furthermore, a pump 25 is provided to pump the liquid heat storage material around the liquid circuit so as to allow the ambient air flowing in the regeneration line 9a to extract or absorb heat from the heat storage material.

[0147] In Figure 3 the embodiment of Figure 1 it is different from

[0148] in that a closable branch line 26 for the compressed dry gas is added, which extends from the outlet 3 to a point Q on the first regeneration line 9a between the heating member 10 and the additional container 15.

[0149] By means of this branch line 26, a second regeneration stage can be introduced after the above-mentioned regeneration stage and before the start of the above-mentioned cooling stage. The second regeneration stage is preferably carried out at a higher temperature than the first regeneration stage.

[0150] In this second regeneration stage, the dried compressed gas will branch off at the outlet 3 and expand by means of the expansion member 27. This will already be accompanied by heating of the gas.

[0151] Subsequently, the heating member 10 will further heat the expanded dry gas; subsequently, the expanded dry gas is conveyed via the heating member to the container to be regenerated to regenerate the desiccant.

[0152] Due to the expansion and heating member 10, the gas will be very hot and also very dry. This will greatly improve the regeneration and a very low dew point of the device 1 and the dried compressed gas will be obtained.

[0153] In Figure 1 and Figure 3 all the examples shown, a member 29 is provided in the additional container 15 to supply external heat to the heat storage material.

[0154] This additional heat comes from outside the device 1 and in this way, this additional heat can be recovered and used effectively during the regeneration of the containers 6a, 6b.

[0155] Finally, for each of the said examples, the heating member 10 can also have two temperature set points, where the lower of the two temperatures is applied first during the regeneration stage (for example, during the first half of the regeneration stage), and then the higher temperature is applied during the second half of the regeneration stage.

[0156] This has the following advantage: the temperature of the desiccant in the regenerated container 6b will be higher after regeneration. This will ensure that when the container 6b is cooled, the heat storage material in the additional container 15 can store more heat.

[0157] Whether the regeneration is carried out at 1 average temperature or at 1 lower and 1 higher temperature, the total consumption of the heating member 10 and the degree of regeneration of the desiccant achieved will be the same, but more heat can be recovered in the latter case.

[0158] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described by way of example and shown in the figures, but the device and method for drying compressed gases according to the present invention can be implemented in all kinds of variations without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for drying compressed gas, the device (1) being provided with an inlet (2) for compressed gas to be dried and an outlet (3) for dried compressed gas, wherein the device (1) comprises at least two containers (6a, 6b) containing regenerable desiccant and an adjustable valve system (7), the adjustable valve system comprising a first valve block (8a) and a second valve block (8b) connecting the inlet (2) and the outlet (3) to the containers (6a, 6b), respectively, wherein the adjustable valve system (7) is configured to enable at least one container (6a, 6b) to dry compressed gas while the other containers (6a, 6b) are regenerated and cooled, and to enable each of the containers (6a, 6b) to dry compressed gas in sequence by controlling the adjustable valve system (7), wherein the device (1) is further provided with The invention relates to a method for producing a regeneration system comprising: a first regeneration pipeline (9a) provided with a heating member (10) for supplying regeneration gas to a container (6a, 6b) being regenerated; and a second regeneration pipeline (9b) for discharging saturated regeneration gas, wherein the first regeneration pipeline (9a) and the second regeneration pipeline (9b) are respectively connected to different valve blocks (8a, 8b), wherein the first regeneration pipeline (9a) and the second regeneration pipeline (9b) are respectively connectable to a blow-out opening (13) or to an outlet (11) of a blower (12) or the like for supplying ambient air, or the first regeneration pipeline (9a) and the second regeneration pipeline (9b) are respectively connectable to an outlet (11) of a blower (12) or to a blow-out opening (13) or the like for supplying ambient air, characterized in that: An additional container (15) is combined or heat-conductively coupled in the first regeneration line (9a) between the blow-out opening (13) or the blower (12) and the heating element (10), the additional container containing a heat storage material, and a pipeline (17) is provided, the pipeline connecting the inlet (18) of the blower (12) to a point (P) of the first regeneration line (9a) between the blow-out opening (13) or the blower (12) and the additional container (15), wherein in the pipeline (17) a closable first valve (19) is arranged, and wherein the device (1) is provided with a second valve (20) in the first regeneration line (9a) between the point (P) and the blow-out opening (13) or the blower (12).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The additional container (15) is integrated into the first regeneration line (9a) and contains a solid heat storage material, such as basalt, for example.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The additional container (15) contains a liquid heat storage material, such as oil, for example, and is connected to the first regeneration line (9a) in a heat-transferring manner by means of a liquid circuit (23) having a heat exchanger (24) integrated into the first regeneration line (9a).

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The additional container (15) is provided with means (29) for supplying external heat to the heat storage material.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The device (1) is provided with a first temperature sensor (21a) located between the heating member (10) and the container (6a, 6b) being regenerated and / or a second temperature sensor (21b) located in the second regeneration line (9b).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that The second valve (20) is an adjustable valve, and the device (1) is provided with a control unit (22) for controlling the first valve (19) and the second valve (20) controlled based on the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor (21a) and / or the second temperature sensor (21b).

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The device is provided with a closable branch line (26) for dried compressed gas, which extends from the outlet (3) to a point (Q) of the first regeneration line (9a) between the heating means (10) and the additional container (15), wherein an expansion means (27) for the dried compressed gas is arranged in the closable branch line (26).

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The heating element (10) has two temperature set points.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The additional container (15) is thermally insulated.

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The device has a valve device, which is connected to the regeneration lines (9a, 9b) and is configured so that the valve device can connect the first regeneration line (9a) and the second regeneration line (9b) to the outlet (11) of the blower (12) or to the blow-out opening (13), or the valve device can connect the first regeneration line (9a) and the second regeneration line (9b) to the blow-out opening (13) or to the outlet (11) of the blower (12), wherein the valve device includes one or more of the following: - a four-way valve (14); - three-way valve; - Butterfly valve; -On / off valve.

11. A method for drying a compressed gas, wherein the method comprises the step of passing the compressed gas to be dried through a regenerable desiccant to extract moisture from the compressed gas to be dried, wherein the desiccant is saturated with the extracted moisture, wherein the method further comprises the step of regenerating a saturated first desiccant by passing a regeneration gas through the saturated first desiccant, wherein dried and heated ambient air is used for the regeneration gas, characterised in that The method comprises the step of heating ambient air by passing the ambient air through a heated thermal storage material before passing the ambient air through a saturated desiccant to regenerate the desiccant, wherein the method comprises the step of cooling the regenerated desiccant by passing the ambient air through the regenerated desiccant, wherein the ambient air is heated, and wherein the method further comprises the step of passing the heated ambient air through the thermal storage material to heat the thermal storage material.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The method is performed using a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10.

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