Device 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, the regeneration line (9a, 9b) can be connected 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] This disclosure relates to an apparatus for drying compressed gas.

[0002] More specifically, this disclosure aims to improve the efficiency of apparatus for drying compressed gases so that the apparatus is less dependent on environmental parameters and more reliable. Background Technology

[0003] Apparatus for drying compressed gases (such as those known from BE2021 / 5615) is known, the apparatus having an inlet for the compressed gas to be dried and an outlet for the dried compressed air, wherein the drying apparatus includes at least two containers containing a regenerable desiccant and an adjustable valve system including a first valve block and a second valve block respectively connecting 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 the other container is regenerated and cooled, and the containers can each sequentially dry the compressed gas by means of the control valve system.

[0004] Renewable desiccant refers to a desiccant or dehumidifier that absorbs moisture from a gas through adsorption and, when saturated with moisture, can be dried by passing a so-called regenerated gas through it. This process is also known as desiccant regeneration. The regenerated gas is typically a hot gas.

[0005] Although the principle of adsorption is involved here, this disclosure also applies to the principle of absorption.

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

[0007] Then, hot gas (the regeneration gas, such as hot air) is typically passed through the container to regenerate it. The hot gas extracts moisture from the desiccant and regenerates it.

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

[0009] To provide container regeneration, the apparatus known from BE2021 / 5615 further includes: a first regeneration line provided with a heating element for supplying regeneration gas to the container being regenerated; and a second regeneration line for discharging saturated regeneration gas, wherein the first and second regeneration lines are each connected to different valve blocks, and wherein the first and second regeneration lines can be connected to a blowout opening or a blower outlet, etc., to supply ambient air, or vice versa.

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

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

[0012] This known device has the following specific features: an additional container for containing regenerable desiccant is incorporated into the first regeneration line between the blowout opening or blower and the heating element.

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

[0014] All ambient moisture will be extracted by the desiccant in the attached container, allowing regeneration to be performed using this completely dry ambient air. This will ensure more efficient regeneration.

[0015] Then cool the regenerated container first.

[0016] For this purpose, a first regeneration line is connected to the blowout opening, and a second regeneration line is connected to the blower.

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

[0018] The refrigerant gas will leave the device via the first regeneration line, the auxiliary container, and the blowout opening.

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

[0020] A disadvantage of this device is that a significant portion of the heat generated by the heating element (used to heat the regenerated gas) is lost during the cooling of the container and is not reused. Furthermore, the cooling is a so-called open-loop cooling method, where ambient air is blown out after passing through the container being cooled only once to release the dissipated heat. Since the ambient air is not dry, this means that the desiccant becomes somewhat saturated with moisture from the ambient air during cooling. Utility Model Content

[0021] This disclosure aims to provide a solution to at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages and other disadvantages.

[0022] This disclosure relates to an apparatus for drying compressed gas, wherein the apparatus is provided with an inlet for compressed gas to be dried and an outlet for dried compressed gas, wherein the apparatus includes at least two containers containing regenerable desiccant and an adjustable valve system, the adjustable valve system including a first valve block and a second valve block respectively connecting the inlet and the outlet to the at least two containers, wherein the adjustable valve system is configured such that at least one container can dry compressed gas while other containers are regenerated and cooled, and such that the at least two containers can each sequentially dry compressed gas by means of a control valve system, wherein the apparatus for drying compressed gas further includes: a first regeneration line provided with a heating element for supplying regenerated gas to the container being regenerated; and a second regeneration line for discharging saturated regenerated gas, wherein the first... A first regeneration line and a second regeneration line are each connected to different valve blocks. The first regeneration line can be connected to a blowout opening and the second regeneration line can be connected to a blower outlet for supplying ambient air, or the first regeneration line can be connected to a blower outlet and the second regeneration line can be connected to a blowout opening for supplying ambient air. An additional container is connected or thermally connected in the first regeneration line between the blowout opening or the blower and the heating element. This additional container contains heat storage material. The device for drying compressed gas is provided with a connecting line that connects the blower inlet to a point on the first regeneration line between the blowout opening or the blower and the additional container. A closable first valve is arranged in this connecting line, and the device for drying compressed gas is provided with a second valve in the first regeneration line between the point and the blowout opening or the blower.

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

[0024] In other words, the additional container will store the heat initially generated by the heating element to heat the regeneration gas. In this way, up to 20% of the heat can be recovered.

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

[0026] This will heat the ambient air, meaning the heating device doesn't need to heat up that much, which means it can be smaller.

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

[0028] Because fresh ambient air is not constantly being used, no more ambient moisture is continuously supplied to the container that is being cooled.

[0029] In other words, ambient air and therefore moisture are not drawn in by the blower, so that the container is not preloaded with moisture during the cooling process.

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

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

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

[0033] In a practical embodiment, an additional container is incorporated into the first regeneration pipeline and contains a solid thermal storage material, such as basalt.

[0034] The advantage of basalt is that it has a very high volumetric heat capacity and can be supplied in granular form in an additional container, allowing air to flow through it easily.

[0035] Alternatively, the additional container holds a liquid heat storage material, such as oil, and the additional container is thermally connected to the first regeneration line by means of a liquid loop having a heat exchanger incorporated into the first regeneration line.

[0036] Liquid thermal storage materials can also be used, in which case the liquid thermal storage material circulates through a liquid loop that includes a heat exchanger through which the liquid thermal storage material can flow and which is integrated into a regeneration line to ensure heat transfer between the regeneration gas and cooling gas on one side and the thermal storage material on the other.

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

[0038] Here, "external" 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 from the heat storage material.

[0040] It cannot be ruled out that the component can also remove heat from the additional container.

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

[0042] For example, the thermal insulation may take the form of an insulating coating on the inside and / or outside 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 released during the cooling phase from the additional container is stored as optimally as possible.

[0044] In one configuration, the device for drying compressed gas is provided with a first temperature sensor located between the heating element and the container being regenerated, and / or a second temperature sensor located in the second regeneration line.

[0045] In one configuration, the second valve is an adjustable valve, and the device for drying compressed gas is provided with a control unit for controlling the first valve and the second valve based on the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor and / or the second temperature sensor.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus for drying compressed gas is provided with a shut-off branch line for the dried compressed gas, the shut-off branch line extending from the outlet for the dried compressed gas to a point on the first regeneration line located between the heating member and the auxiliary container, wherein an expansion member for the dried compressed gas is provided in the branch line.

[0047] "Closeable" means, for example, a component in a branch line that allows the branch line to be closed so that gas cannot flow through it, such as a closeable valve.

[0048] The branch line will allow a portion of the compressed, dried gas to be used as regeneration gas instead of ambient air.

[0049] After regeneration with ambient air, as described above, a second regeneration stage can be initiated, in which the compressed dry gas is branched, expanded, and then conveyed via a heating element to the container being regenerated in order to regenerate the desiccant.

[0050] Due to the expansion and heating components, the gas will be extremely hot and also extremely dry. This will greatly improve regeneration and result in extremely low dew points for both the device and the dried compressed gas.

[0051] In one configuration, the heating element has two temperature setpoints.

[0052] In one configuration, the additional container is thermally insulated.

[0053] In one configuration, the device for drying compressed gas includes a valve device connected to a first regeneration line and a second regeneration line and configured such that the valve device can connect the first regeneration line to the outlet of a blower and the second regeneration line to the blowout opening, or the valve device can connect the first regeneration line to the blowout opening and the second regeneration line to the outlet of a blower, wherein the valve device includes one or more of the following:

[0054] - Four-way valve;

[0055] - Three-way valve;

[0056] -Butterfly valve;

[0057] -Open / close valve. Attached Figure Description

[0058] To better illustrate the features of this disclosure, some preferred embodiments of the apparatus for drying compressed gas according to this disclosure are described below by way of example and without any limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0059] Figure 1 An apparatus for drying compressed gas according to the present disclosure is shown schematically;

[0060] Figure 2 and Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A variation of the layout. Detailed Implementation

[0061] Figure 1 The apparatus 1 shown in the figure for drying compressed gas includes an inlet 2 for the compressed gas to be dried and an outlet 3 for the dried compressed gas.

[0062] exist Figure 1 In the example, inlet 2 is connected to outlet 4 of compressor 5.

[0063] The device 1 also includes two containers 6a and 6b that contain a regenerable desiccant.

[0064] For the purposes of this disclosure, it is not excluded that device 1 may include more than two such containers 6a, 6b.

[0065] The device 1 also includes an adjustable valve system 7, which includes a first valve block 8a and a second valve block 8b.

[0066] The first valve block 8a will connect containers 6a and 6b to the inlet 2 for the compressed gas to be dried, while the second valve block 8b will connect containers 6a and 6b to the outlet 3 for the dried compressed gas.

[0067] The valve blocks 8a and 8b are systems of different pipelines and valves that can be controlled such that at least one container 6a or 6b is always regenerated and subsequently cooled, while another container 6a or 6b or other containers 6a or 6b dry compressed gas, wherein containers 6a or 6b will each dry compressed gas sequentially via the control valve system 7.

[0068] According to this disclosure, the apparatus 1 further includes a first regeneration line 9a for supplying regeneration gas to the containers 6a and 6b that are being regenerated, and a second regeneration line 9b for discharging saturated regeneration gas.

[0069] The first regeneration pipeline 9a and the second regeneration pipeline 9b are each connected to different valve blocks 8a and 8b.

[0070] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the first regeneration line 9a is connected to the second valve block 8b, and the second regeneration line 9b is connected to the first valve block 8a, but this can also be reversed.

[0071] Heating element 10 is incorporated into first regeneration line 9a to heat regeneration gas before it enters and flows through containers 6a, 6b that are being regenerated.

[0072] In this case, these heating elements 10 include electric heaters, but do not exclude the inclusion of steam heaters or heat exchangers incorporated into the first regeneration line 9a.

[0073] The heating element 10 may also include a heat exchanger that uses the heat of compression from the compressor 5 to heat the regeneration gas.

[0074] Both the first regeneration line 9a and the second regeneration line 9b can be connected to the outlet 11 or the blowout opening 13 of the blower 12.

[0075] A blower 12 is used to draw in ambient air. Of course, it is not excluded that other devices for drawing in ambient air may be provided instead of the blower 12.

[0076] The first regeneration line 9a is connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12 and the second regeneration line 9b is connected to the blowout opening 13, and vice versa, that is, the second regeneration line 9b is connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12 and the first regeneration line 9a is connected to the blowout opening 13.

[0077] Although a blower 12 and a blowout opening 13 can be provided for each regeneration line 9a, 9b, and a switching component for switching between them can be provided, Figure 1 In the example, a valve device in the form of a four-way valve 14 is chosen for device 1 to achieve a more compact design.

[0078] However, this compact valve device does not necessarily have to be equipped with a four-way valve 14.

[0079] Valve gear preferably includes one or more of the following components:

[0080] - Four-way valve (14);

[0081] - Three-way valve;

[0082] -Butterfly valve;

[0083] -Open / close valve.

[0084] Valve assemblies may include, for example, four separate butterfly valves, four separate on / off valves, or two three-way valves.

[0085] The first regeneration line 9a and the second regeneration line 9b can be connected to the outlet 11 and the blowout opening 13 of the blower 12, respectively, via the four-way valve 14, and vice versa.

[0086] For this purpose, one connection point of the four-way valve 14 is connected to the first regeneration line 9a, one connection point is connected to the second regeneration line 9b, one connection point is connected to the blowout opening 13, and one connection point is connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12.

[0087] By switching the four-way valve 14, one can select which of the two regeneration lines 9a and 9b is connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12 and which is connected to the blowout opening 13.

[0088] Figure 1 The position of the four-way valve 14 is shown, with the first regeneration line 9a connected to the blowout opening 13.

[0089] Here, the device 1 allows ambient air drawn in by the blower 12 to enter the container 6b being cooled via the four-way valve 14, the second regeneration line 9b, and the first valve block 8a at this position of the four-way valve 14.

[0090] Of course, valve system 7 is properly controlled to allow the correct flow path of ambient air.

[0091] When the four-way valve 14 is switched, the first regeneration line 9a will be connected to the outlet 11 of the blower 12.

[0092] Here, the device 1 allows ambient air drawn in by the blower 12 to enter the regenerating container 6b via the four-way valve 14, the first regeneration line 9a, and the second valve block 8b at this position of the four-way valve 14.

[0093] Here, valve system 7 is also properly controlled to allow the correct flow path of ambient air.

[0094] According to this disclosure, the additional container 15 is connected to the first regeneration line 9a between the blowout opening 13 or the blower 12 and the heating element 10.

[0095] In this additional container 15, a heat storage material is arranged. In this case, the material involves basalt in granular form.

[0096] Additionally, but not necessarily, in this case, the additional container 15 is encased in insulating material 16 to make the additional container thermally insulated.

[0097] Alternatively, the auxiliary container 15 can be thermally insulated by means of an insulating coating on the inside and / or outside of the auxiliary container 15.

[0098] According to this disclosure, the device is further provided with a pipeline 17 that connects the inlet 18 of the blower 12 to a point P of the first regeneration pipeline 9a located between the blowout opening 13 of the blower 12 and the additional container 15.

[0099] A closable first valve 19 is provided in the pipeline 17.

[0100] Furthermore, the device 1 is provided with a second valve 20 located in the first regeneration line 9a between the point P and the blowout opening 13 or the blower 12. This valve 20 may also be located on the blowout opening 13, that is, the blowout opening 13 is provided with the valve 20.

[0101] When containers 6a and 6b are cooled, pipeline 17 will be used to form a closed loop.

[0102] In this case, the device 1 is also provided with a first temperature sensor 21a located between the heating member 10 and the containers 6a and 6b that are being regenerated, and in this case, but not necessarily, a second temperature sensor 21b is provided located in the second regeneration pipeline 9b.

[0103] 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.

[0104] Control unit 22 will also control the closable first valve 19.

[0105] The operation of the compressed gas drying device 1 is very simple and is as follows.

[0106] During the operation of device 1, the compressed gas to be dried will enter the drying container 6a via inlet 2 and under the appropriate control of valve system 7.

[0107] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the example, container 6a on the left-hand side will dry the compressed gas.

[0108] As it passes through the left-hand container 6a, the desiccant will extract moisture from the gas.

[0109] The dried compressed gas will leave device 1 through outlet 3.

[0110] By properly controlling valve system 7, the correct flow path of the compressed gas to be dried is achieved.

[0111] Another container 6b (in this case, the right-hand side) containing moisture has been dried during a previous cycle or phase and is being regenerated during this period.

[0112] In this case, a regeneration cycle is used, which involves heating ambient air and passing it through the relevant container 6b and then blowing it out.

[0113] Therefore, the four-way valve 14 is positioned correctly.

[0114] Blower 12 will draw in ambient air, which will then enter the auxiliary container 15 via four-way valve 14.

[0115] Here, the ambient air is heated by the heat accumulated in the previous stage, and then further heated by the heating element 10 if necessary.

[0116] The heated ambient air will now be directed via the second valve block 8b to the right-hand container 6b to regenerate the desiccant in the container 6b.

[0117] After passing through container 6b, the desiccant in container 6b will not only be dried but also heated.

[0118] Ambient air will then leave the device 1 via the first valve block 8a, the four-way valve 14 and the blowout opening 13.

[0119] Now, the container 6b on the right side has been regenerated (that is, the moisture has been removed from the desiccant) and heated.

[0120] To ensure that the container 6b can optimally dry the compressed gas in subsequent cycles or steps, the container is first cooled.

[0121] After all, cold desiccants can dry things better than hot desiccants.

[0122] Therefore, switch the four-way valve 14 to the correct position, such as... Figure 1 As shown.

[0123] The state or position of valve system 7 remains unchanged, allowing the left-hand container 6a to continue drying compressed gas during this period.

[0124] By switching the four-way valve 14, the ambient air drawn in by the blower 12 will now reach the container 6b via the first valve block 8a and have its heat removed from the container 6b.

[0125] The heated ambient air now enters the auxiliary container 15 via the second valve block 8b and the heater 10.

[0126] The heated ambient air will now heat the auxiliary container 15, that is, the heat extracted from the container 6b is stored in the heat storage material of the auxiliary container 15.

[0127] As a result of this process, the right-hand container 6b will be cooled and the heat storage material in the additional container 15 will be heated.

[0128] Thanks to the provided insulation 16, all such heat will be optimally stored in the additional container 15. It should be noted that the insulation 16 is not essential to this disclosure.

[0129] After the ambient air releases its heat into the auxiliary container 15, it will be guided back to the inlet 18 of the blower 12 via the pipeline 19.

[0130] In other words, it will not be blown out, but recycled.

[0131] To achieve this closed loop, the control unit 22 will appropriately control the first valve 19 and the second valve 20, which can be closed, in this case by opening valve 19 and closing valve 20.

[0132] When the first temperature sensor 21a or the second temperature sensor 21b measures a temperature higher than that that the blower 12 can withstand, the control unit 22 will close the shut-off valve 19 and open the second valve 20. This causes ambient air to be blown out through the blow-out opening 13 after passing through the auxiliary container 15, and the blower 12 will continuously draw in fresh ambient air to cool the container 6a.

[0133] At the end of this cooling step, the desiccant in the left-hand container 6a will be saturated and the container will be ready for regeneration, while the right-hand container 6b is now ready to dry the compressed gas.

[0134] By controlling or switching valve system 7, it will now be ensured that the compressed gas to be dried is finally in the right-hand container 6b for drying.

[0135] Meanwhile, the left-hand container 6a will be regenerated in a similar manner to the previous steps.

[0136] Here, the four-way valve 14 will be set to the first position.

[0137] Blower 12 will draw in ambient air, which will eventually be placed in the auxiliary container 15.

[0138] Here, the ambient air will be heated by the heat stored in the heat storage material.

[0139] Therefore, the dried and preheated ambient air will enter the heating element 10 via the first regeneration pipeline 9a.

[0140] Since the ambient air has been preheated, the heating element 10 will have to be set lower, resulting in a lower maximum temperature that the heating element 10 must provide.

[0141] Furthermore, the regeneration and subsequent cooling of container 6a are carried out in the same manner as described above for container 6b on the right side.

[0142] After the left-hand container 6a cools down, the right-hand container 6b will be saturated and the containers can be swapped again.

[0143] Then, the entire loop repeats itself from the beginning.

[0144] Of course, it is not excluded that the control unit 22 can be used to control the heating element 10.

[0145] The control unit 22 can control the heating element 10 based on temperature sensors 21a and / or 21b.

[0146] Although only two containers 6a and 6b are shown and described in the example, it is not excluded that there may be more than two containers 6a and 6b, in which case at least one container 6a and 6b will always dry the compressed gas.

[0147] For example, there can be six containers 6a and 6b, of which three containers 6a and 6b will dry the compressed gas, two containers 6a and 6b will be regenerated and one container 6a and 6b will be cooled.

[0148] Figure 2 Alternative embodiments are shown.

[0149] In this case, the additional container 15 contains a liquid heat storage material, such as oil.

[0150] In addition, it is not integrated into the regeneration line 9a, but is connected to the regeneration line by means of liquid circuit 23 in a heat transfer manner.

[0151] In addition to the auxiliary container 15, the liquid circuit 23 also includes a heat exchanger 24, which is integrated into the first regeneration line 9a.

[0152] In addition, a pump 25 is provided to pump liquid thermal storage material around the liquid loop so that ambient air flowing in the regeneration line 9a can extract or absorb heat from the thermal storage material.

[0153] exist Figure 3 In the embodiments, with Figure 1 The difference is the addition of a shut-off branch line 26 for the compressed dry gas, which extends from outlet 3 to point Q of the first regeneration line 9a located between heating element 10 and additional container 15.

[0154] In this branch line 26, in addition to the shut-off valve 28, an expansion member 27 for the compressed dry gas is also provided.

[0155] With the aid of this branch line 26, a second regeneration stage can be introduced after the aforementioned regeneration stage and before the commencement of the aforementioned cooling stage. The second regeneration stage is preferably carried out at a higher temperature than the first regeneration stage.

[0156] In this second regeneration stage, the dried compressed gas will branch at outlet 3 and expand by means of expansion member 27. This will be accompanied by heating of the gas.

[0157] Subsequently, the heating element 10 further heats the expanded dry gas; then, the expanded dry gas is conveyed via the heating element to the container to be regenerated so that the desiccant is regenerated.

[0158] Due to the expansion and heating element 10, the gas will be very hot and also very dry. This will greatly improve regeneration and result in extremely low dew points for both the device 1 and the dried compressed gas.

[0159] exist Figure 1 and Figure 3 In all the examples shown, component 29 is disposed in the additional container 15 to supply external heat to the heat storage material.

[0160] The additional heat comes from outside the device 1, and in this way, the additional heat can be recovered and used effectively during the regeneration of containers 6a and 6b.

[0161] Finally, for each of the examples, the heating element 10 may also have two temperature setpoints, wherein the lower of the two temperatures is applied first during the regeneration phase (e.g., during the first half of the regeneration phase), and the higher temperature is subsequently applied during the second half of the regeneration phase.

[0162] This has the following advantages: the temperature of the desiccant in the regenerated container 6b will be higher after regeneration. This will ensure that the heat storage material in the additional container 15 can store more heat when the container 6b is cooled.

[0163] Whether regenerated at an average temperature or at a lower and a higher temperature, the total consumption of heating element 10 and the degree of desiccant regeneration achieved will be the same, but more heat can be recovered in the latter case.

[0164] This disclosure is by no means limited to the embodiments described by way of example and shown in the figures, but rather the apparatus for drying compressed gas according to this disclosure can be implemented in all kinds of variations without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for drying compressed gas, the apparatus (1) comprising an inlet (2) for compressed gas to be dried and an outlet (3) for dried compressed gas, wherein the apparatus (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) respectively connecting the inlet (2) and the outlet (3) to the at least two containers (6a, 6b), wherein the adjustable valve system (7) is configured such that at least one container can dry the compressed gas while other containers are regenerated and cooled, and such that by controlling the adjustable valve system (7), each of the at least two containers (6a, 6b) can sequentially dry the compressed gas. The apparatus (1) for drying compressed gas described herein further comprises: a first regeneration line (9a), the first regeneration line being provided with a heating element (10) for supplying regeneration gas to the container being regenerated; and a second regeneration line (9b), the second regeneration line for discharging saturated regeneration gas, wherein the first regeneration line (9a) and the second regeneration line (9b) are each connected to different valve blocks, wherein the first regeneration line (9a) can be connected to a blowout opening (13) and the second regeneration line (9b) can be connected to the outlet (11) of a blower (12) for supplying ambient air, or the first regeneration line (9a) can be connected to the outlet (11) of a blower (12) and the second regeneration line (9b) can be connected to a blowout opening (13) for supplying ambient air, characterized in that, An auxiliary container (15) is connected or thermally connected to the first regeneration line (9a) between the blowout opening (13) or the blower (12) and the heating element (10), the auxiliary container containing heat storage material, and the device (1) for drying compressed gas is provided with a connecting line (17) connecting the inlet (18) of the blower (12) to a point (P) of the first regeneration line (9a) between the blowout opening (13) or the blower (12) and the auxiliary container (15), wherein a closable first valve (19) is arranged in the connecting line (17), and wherein the device (1) for drying compressed gas is provided with a second valve (20) in the first regeneration line (9a) between the point (P) and the blowout opening (13) or the blower (12).

2. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The additional container (15) is incorporated into the first regeneration pipeline (9a) and contains solid thermal storage material.

3. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to claim 2, characterized in that, The solid thermal storage material is basalt.

4. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The additional container (15) contains liquid thermal storage material and is connected to the first regeneration line (9a) in a heat transfer manner by means of a liquid circuit (23), the liquid circuit having a heat exchanger (24) incorporated into the first regeneration line (9a).

5. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to claim 4, characterized in that, The liquid heat storage material is oil.

6. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, The additional container (15) is provided with a component (29) for supplying external heat to the heat storage material.

7. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The device (1) for drying compressed gas is provided with a first temperature sensor (21a) located between the heating element (10) and the container being regenerated and / or a second temperature sensor (21b) located in the second regeneration line (9b).

8. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second valve (20) is an adjustable valve, and the device (1) for drying compressed gas is provided with a control unit (22) for controlling the first valve (19) and the second valve (20) based on the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor (21a) and / or the second temperature sensor (21b).

9. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The apparatus for drying compressed gas is provided with a shut-off branch line (26) for the dried compressed gas, the shut-off branch line extending from the outlet (3) for the dried compressed gas to a point (Q) on the first regeneration line (9a) located between the heating member (10) and the additional container (15), wherein an expansion member (27) for the dried compressed gas is provided in the shut-off branch line (26).

10. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The heating element (10) has two temperature setpoints.

11. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The additional container (15) is thermally insulated.

12. The apparatus for drying compressed gas according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The apparatus for drying compressed gas has a valve device connected to the first regeneration line (9a) and the second regeneration line (9b) and configured such that the valve device can connect the first regeneration line (9a) to the outlet (11) of the blower (12) and the second regeneration line (9b) to the blowout opening (13), or the valve device can connect the first regeneration line (9a) to the blowout opening (13) and the second regeneration line (9b) to the outlet (11) of the blower (12), wherein the valve device includes one or more of the following: - Four-way valve (14); - Three-way valve; -Butterfly valve; -Open / close valve.

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