Air dryer arrangement, vehicle compressed air supply system, vehicle and method for operating an air dryer arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to an air dryer arrangement (10) for a compressed air supply system (40) of a vehicle (50), comprising an air compressor connection (11) connectable to an air compressor (41) of the compressed air supply system (40) for supplying compressed air (L DW ) to the air dryer arrangement (10), a first dryer container (12) with a first desiccant (14a) and a second dryer container (13) with a second desiccant (14b) for absorbing moisture when compressed air (L DW ), wherein the first dryer container (12) and the second dryer container (13) are connected in parallel and optionally in a drying mode (T) for drying the compressed air (L DW) and can be operated in a regeneration mode (R) for regenerating the first drying agent (14a) and / or the second drying agent (14b), a compressed air connection (15) for the output-side provision of dried compressed air (L DW ) for a compressed air consumer (51), a vent connection (16) for discharging moisture-containing regeneration air (L RK , L RW ), and a valve arrangement (17) with a valve device (18) which can be controlled by means of a control unit (19) for selectively connecting the first dryer container (12) or the second dryer container (13) to the air compressor connection (11), the compressed air connection (15) and / or the vent connection (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an air dryer assembly for a compressed air supply system of a vehicle. The invention further relates to a vehicle compressed air supply system with an air dryer assembly, a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, with an air dryer assembly, and a method for operating an air dryer assembly.

[0002] Compressed air supply systems are used in vehicles to supply compressed air to the vehicle's compressed air consumers, such as an air suspension system, a pneumatic braking system, or a sensor cleaning system. To prevent moisture-related corrosion or icing in the compressed air line system of the compressed air supply system and the compressed air consumers, the supplied compressed air, which is generated by compressing ambient air using an air compressor, is treated and dehumidified, particularly through drying. For this purpose, compressed air supply systems can have an air dryer arrangement, which, depending on the drying principle, can be designed as a refrigeration dryer, membrane air dryer, or adsorption dryer.

[0003] DE 10 2015 219 618 A1 describes an integrated air supply unit, in particular for an air suspension system for a motor vehicle, comprising an air compressor with an electric motor, an air dryer and a pneumatic block, wherein the air compressor and partially a changeover valve device for air flow control are arranged within the pneumatic block, wherein a first pneumatic line section is provided in the block between the air compressor and the air dryer and a second pneumatic line section is provided in the block between the air dryer and the changeover valve device, wherein the first and the second line sections run next to one another in the block, in particular so close that the air in the first and in the second line sections acts as an air-air heat exchanger.

[0004] According to the features of independent claim 1, an air dryer arrangement for a compressed air supply system of a vehicle is proposed, comprising: - an air compressor connection that can be connected to an air compressor of the compressed air supply system for supplying compressed air to the air dryer arrangement on the inlet side, - a first dryer container with a first desiccant and a second dryer container with a second desiccant for absorbing moisture when compressed air flows through the first dryer container and / or the second dryer container, wherein the first dryer container and the second dryer container are connected in parallel and can be operated selectively in a drying mode for drying the compressed air provided on the inlet side and in a regeneration mode for regenerating the first desiccant and / or the second desiccant, - a compressed air connection for the output-side supply of dried compressed air for a compressed air consumer, - a vent connection for removing moisture-containing regeneration air, and - a valve arrangement with a valve device which can be controlled by means of a control unit for selectively connecting the first dryer container or the second dryer container to the air compressor connection, the compressed air connection and / or the vent connection, wherein - a first compressed air inlet line selectively connecting the air compressor connection to the first dryer container is configured to transfer heat from the compressed air provided on the inlet side to the second dryer container, in that the first compressed air inlet line and the second dryer container are arranged next to one another at least in sections, and - a second compressed air inlet line selectively connecting the air compressor connection to the second dryer container is configured to transfer heat from the compressed air provided on the inlet side to the first dryer container, in that the second compressed air inlet line and the first dryer container are arranged next to one another at least in sections.

[0005] In other words, it is proposed, in simplified terms, to heat the first or second dryer container in regeneration mode by means of the compressed air to be dried, which is heated by compression in the air compressor, in order to optimize the regeneration of the first desiccant and / or the second desiccant. The first compressed air inlet line and the second compressed air inlet line thus have a multiple function and, depending on a switching state of the valve arrangement, according to which the first compressed air inlet line or the second compressed air inlet line is connected to the air compressor connection, - the heat transfer to the first dryer vessel and the supply of the compressed air to be dried to the second dryer vessel by means of the second compressed air inlet line or - the heat transfer to the second dryer vessel and the supply of the compressed air to be dried to the first dryer vessel by means of the first compressed air inlet line.

[0006] For heat transfer, the first compressed air inlet line and the second dryer container are arranged next to one another, at least in sections. In other words, the first compressed air inlet line can run at least in sections along the second dryer container for heat transfer from the compressed air provided on the inlet side to the second dryer container. The first compressed air inlet line can, for example, be routed along the outside of the second dryer container and / or through an interior of the second dryer container. A distance between the first compressed air inlet line and the second dryer container can be selected such that effective heat transfer can take place between the first compressed air inlet line and the second dryer container. The first compressed air inlet line and the second dryer container can therefore jointly form a heat exchanger, at least in sections.In particular, there is no fluid connection between the second dryer vessel and the first compressed air inlet line, but an air flow flowing through the second dryer vessel and an air flow flowing through the first compressed air inlet line are separated from each other by a wall of the first compressed air inlet line and optionally additionally by a wall of the second dryer vessel, so that the heat transfer can be limited to an indirect heat transfer.

[0007] For heat transfer, the second compressed air inlet line and the first dryer container are arranged next to one another, at least in sections. In other words, the second compressed air inlet line can run at least in sections along the first dryer container for heat transfer from the compressed air provided on the inlet side to the first dryer container. The second compressed air inlet line can, for example, be routed along the outside of the first dryer container and / or through an interior space of the first dryer container. A distance between the second compressed air inlet line and the first dryer container can be selected such that effective heat transfer can take place between the second compressed air inlet line and the first dryer container. The second compressed air inlet line and the first dryer container can therefore jointly form a heat exchanger, at least in sections.In particular, there is no fluid connection between the first dryer vessel and the second compressed air inlet line, but an air flow flowing through the first dryer vessel and an air flow flowing through the second compressed air inlet line are separated from each other by a wall of the second compressed air inlet line and optionally additionally by a wall of the first dryer vessel, so that the heat transfer can be limited to an indirect heat transfer.

[0008] The air dryer arrangement with the proposed features has the advantage that more efficient regeneration of the first or second dryer vessel in regeneration mode can be enabled simply by supplying waste heat from the compressed air supplied on the inlet side. At the same time, the heat transfer to the first or second dryer vessel in regeneration mode can cool the compressed air supplied on the inlet side, thus increasing the achievable degree of drying of the compressed air to be dried, which is supplied to the first or second dryer vessel in drying mode. The proposed air dryer arrangement enables an energy-optimized and economical air drying process to be implemented.

[0009] The air dryer arrangement according to the proposed features can, in particular, be based on adsorption drying in a container design. The drying process in adsorption drying is based on a sorption principle. The first desiccant contained in the first dryer container and the second desiccant contained in the second dryer container can each form a sorption agent made of a hygroscopic material, for example a zeolite, which removes moisture from the compressed air flowing through the first and second dryer containers. Depending on the selected embodiment, the first desiccant and the second desiccant can be similar or different desiccants. Since the first desiccant and the second desiccant experience increasing saturation, they must be regularly regenerated, i.e., the absorbed moisture must be released again.Accordingly, the first dryer vessel and the second dryer vessel can be operated alternately in a drying mode, in which an adsorption process for drying the compressed air takes place, and in a regeneration mode, in which a desorption process for dehumidifying the first desiccant and / or the second desiccant takes place. Furthermore, the first dryer vessel and the second dryer vessel can optionally be operated in a standby mode, in which the first dryer vessel and / or the second dryer vessel are neither supplied with compressed air to be dried nor with regeneration air.

[0010] The compressed air dried by a first or second dryer container operating in drying mode can be made available at the output-side compressed air connection of the air dryer assembly and, for example, fed to a compressed air consumer of the vehicle or temporarily stored in a compressed air reservoir. Regeneration air discharged from the first or second dryer container operating in regeneration mode, which contains moisture absorbed by the first or second desiccant, can be fed to the vent connection.

[0011] According to the proposed features, the air dryer assembly comprises a valve assembly with a valve device that can be controlled by a control unit for selectively connecting the first or second dryer container to the air compressor connection, the compressed air connection, and / or the vent connection. A controllable valve device can, in particular, be a controllable, switchable valve, for example, a solenoid valve or a relay valve with or without pilot control. The valve device can, in particular, be controllable by means of a control unit of the compressed air supply system. The valve assembly can, in particular, also comprise a plurality of controllable valve devices. The valve assembly can, in particular, comprise at least one non-switchable valve, for example, a check valve.The air compressor connection can be fluidly connected or connected to an air compressor, for example, via a valve device on the inlet side, for example, to an air compressor of a compressor system, and fluidly connected to the first dryer vessel via the first compressed air inlet line or to the second dryer vessel via the second compressed air inlet line on the outlet side. The compressed air connection can be connected to the first dryer vessel via a first compressed air outlet line on the inlet side or to the second dryer vessel via a second compressed air outlet line on the outlet side, and can be connected or connected to a compressed air consumer and / or a compressed air reservoir on the outlet side.The vent connection can be connectable to the first dryer vessel via the first compressed air outlet line or to the second dryer vessel via the second compressed air outlet line and can enable venting of the first or second compressed air outlet line into the atmosphere.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the air dryer arrangement can be configured to alternately operate the first dryer container and the second dryer container complementarily in the drying mode and in the regeneration mode. In complementary operation, the first and second dryer containers are configured to operate the first dryer container in the drying mode, while the second dryer container is simultaneously operated in the regeneration mode, and vice versa. The first and second dryer containers can be configured to operate alternately in the drying and regeneration modes, and in particular, to be switched over simultaneously.To design the air dryer arrangement for complementary operation of the first and second dryer vessels, there may be, for example, a suitable arrangement of pressure inlet and pressure outlet lines to and from the first and second dryer vessels, a suitable valve arrangement with switchable valve devices and a suitable configuration of the control unit for controlling the valve devices.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first compressed air inlet line and the second compressed air inlet line can be connected to one another by an inlet branch line, wherein a throttle device is arranged in the inlet branch line. In this embodiment, a partial flow of the compressed air flow flowing through the first or second compressed air inlet line connected to the air compressor connection can flow through the inlet branch line into the respective other compressed air inlet line and be guided through the throttle device. The compressed air portion of the compressed air flow not flowing into the inlet branch line can be passed on for drying into the first or second dryer vessel in drying mode, while the partial flow of the compressed air flow flowing into the inlet branch line can form a regeneration air flow for the first or second dryer vessel in regeneration mode.The regeneration air flow can be relaxed and cooled by the throttle device.Due to the proposed arrangement with an inlet branch line between the first and second compressed air inlet line, the regeneration air flow, after expansion and cooling, can be guided through the other first or second compressed air inlet line, which is not directly connected to the air compressor connection, for heat transfer along the first or second dryer vessel in drying operation and there contribute to cooling the first or second dryer vessel in countercurrent to the air flow guided through the first or second dryer vessel, whereby on the one hand the drying efficiency is increased and on the other hand the regeneration air flow can be heated by heat absorption in order to increase the efficiency of the regeneration when the heated air flow is subsequently guided through the first or second dryer vessel in regeneration operation.Through the additional cooling of the first or second dryer vessel during drying operation, the air flow directed through the first or second dryer vessel can release more moisture, and through the heating of the first or second dryer vessel during regeneration operation, the regeneration air flow directed through the first or second dryer vessel can absorb more moisture. The throttle device also has the advantage that the expansion of the regeneration air flow directed through the throttle device increases its volume flow, thereby further increasing the water absorption capacity of the regeneration air flow relative to a given air mass flow or relative to the provided regeneration air volume.Depending on the selected system architecture of the air dryer arrangement and a compressed air supply system comprising the air dryer arrangement, throttle devices in the air dryer arrangement can also enable noise-reduced venting of the compressed air supply system via the air dryer arrangement.

[0014] According to a further development of the above-described embodiment, the throttle device can be designed as a switchable throttle device. The throttle device can be designed, for example, as a solenoid valve or relay valve to enable regeneration of the first or second dryer container selectively or as needed, or to switch, for example, between regeneration using the compressed air provided on the inlet side or regeneration using stored compressed air from a compressed air reservoir of the air dryer assembly or the compressed air supply system.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the first compressed air inlet line and the second compressed air inlet line can be connected to the air compressor connection by means of a switchable inlet valve of the valve arrangement. The inlet valve can be, for example, a solenoid valve or relay valve. With an inlet valve designed as a relay valve, a robust, powerful inlet valve that is resistant to warm, humid compressed air can advantageously be provided. By switching between the first and second compressed air inlet lines to supply the respective compressed air inlet line with compressed air from the air compressor, a temporally alternating, in particular complementary, operation of the first and second dryer containers between the regeneration mode and the drying mode can be implemented in a simple and reliable manner.

[0016] According to one embodiment, a first compressed air outlet line connecting the first dryer container to the vent connection and / or to the compressed air connection, and a second compressed air outlet line connecting the second dryer container to the vent connection and / or to the compressed air connection, can be selectively connectable to the vent connection by means of a vent valve and / or selectively to the compressed air connection by means of an outlet valve. This makes it possible in a simple and efficient manner to provide dried compressed air from the first or second dryer container operated in drying mode to the compressed air connection in a temporally alternating, in particular complementary, operation of the first and second dryer containers, and to discharge moisture-containing regeneration air from the first or second dryer container operated in regeneration mode to the vent connection.During regeneration mode, the first dryer vessel can be connected to the vent port via the first compressed air outlet line, and during regeneration mode, the second dryer vessel can be connected to the vent port via the second compressed air outlet line. During drying mode, the first dryer vessel can be connected to the compressed air port via the first compressed air outlet line, and during drying mode, the second dryer vessel can be connected to the compressed air port via the second compressed air outlet line. Depending on the selected system architecture, the vent valve can be a switchable vent valve and / or the outlet valve can be a switchable outlet valve.The switchable vent valve and / or the switchable outlet valve enable or enable a temporally alternating, particularly complementary, operation of the first and second dryer containers in drying mode and regeneration mode. A switchable outlet valve or a switchable vent valve can be designed, for example, as a solenoid valve or a relay valve.

[0017] According to a further development of the above-described embodiment, the first compressed air outlet line can be connected to the compressed air connection via an outlet branch line and a first check valve arranged in the outlet branch line, and the second compressed air outlet line can be connected to the compressed air connection via the outlet branch line and a second check valve arranged in the outlet branch line. This allows the compressed air connection to be accessed via a non-switchable valve combination, simplifying the control of the valve arrangement of the air dryer arrangement and reducing its circuit complexity. The outlet branch line and the check valves arranged thereon allow the first and second compressed air outlet lines to share a common outlet line section to the compressed air connection.The flow directions of the first and second check valves are in particular opposite to one another, so that a direct flow from the first compressed air output line to the second compressed air output line and vice versa via the output branch line is blocked by the first check valve or the second check valve, respectively. Since the higher prevailing pressure is allowed to pass through the first and second check valves, it is ensured that the dried compressed air from the first or second compressed air output line is guided to the compressed air connection, while the regeneration air guided in the other compressed air line, which has a lower pressure than the dried compressed air, is prevented from entering the common output line section to the compressed air connection.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the first dryer container and / or the second dryer container can be optionally connected to a compressed air reservoir for regeneration. This allows, for example, already dried compressed air to be used as needed to regenerate the first and / or second dryer container. In particular, regeneration of the first and / or second dryer container with compressed air from a compressed air reservoir does not require the air compressor to be running, so that regeneration can also be carried out when the compressor system is switched off. The compressed air reservoir can, for example, be a compressed air reservoir of the compressed air supply system or of a compressed air consumer of the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the air dryer arrangement can have a separate compressed air reservoir that can be connected to the first and / or second dryer container for regeneration.For the selective activation of the compressed air reservoir for regenerating the first and / or second dryer vessel, the air dryer assembly can have a switchable compressed air reservoir valve. The compressed air reservoir can be connected, for example, to the first and / or second compressed air inlet line via a separate compressed air reservoir line. The compressed air reservoir line can be connected to the first compressed air inlet line via a check valve and a throttle device, and to the second compressed air inlet line via another check valve and another throttle device.

[0019] According to one embodiment, a first electrical heating element for controllable temperature control of the first dryer container can be arranged on the first dryer container, and / or a second electrical heating element for controllable temperature control of the second dryer container can be arranged on the second dryer container. This allows for additional heating of the first or second dryer container in regeneration mode, as needed.For example, the first dryer vessel in regeneration mode can be heated by means of the first electrical heating element or the second dryer vessel in regeneration mode can be heated by means of the second electrical heating element if the first dryer vessel or the second dryer vessel is connected to a compressed air reservoir for regeneration and the waste heat of a heated compressed air flow provided on the input side by the air compressor is not used for heat transfer to the first dryer vessel in regeneration mode and / or the second dryer vessel in regeneration mode.Alternatively, the first electrical heating element can be used to additionally heat the first dryer container and / or the second electrical heating element can be used to additionally heat the second dryer container in addition to transferring heat from the compressed air flow to the first dryer container in regeneration mode or to the second dryer container in regeneration mode in order to carry out even more efficient regeneration. The first electrical heating element and / or the second electrical heating element can be designed, for example, as a PTC resistor or as a heating coil. The first electrical heating element can be arranged, for example, on an inner wall surface of the first dryer container. The second electrical heating element can be arranged, for example, on an inner wall surface of the second dryer container.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the first electrical heating element and / or the second electrical heating element can be connected to the control unit for controlling the valve device of the valve arrangement, and the control unit can be configured to monitor an operating parameter of the first electrical heating element and / or the second electrical heating element and to control the valve device of the valve arrangement depending on the operating parameter. According to one possible embodiment, the operating parameter can be a heating power of the first electrical heating element or a heating power of the second electrical heating element. The heating power of the first electrical heating element can correlate with a moisture content of the first dryer container. The heating power of the second electrical heating element can correlate with a moisture content in the second dryer container.By monitoring the heating output of the first electrical heating element, the first electrical heating element can be indirectly used as a humidity sensor. By monitoring the heating output of the second electrical heating element, the second electrical heating element can be indirectly used as a humidity sensor. By monitoring the heating output of the first electrical heating element, for example, can be used as a criterion for switching the first dryer container from regeneration mode to drying mode or to idle mode. By monitoring the heating output of the second electrical heating element, for example, can be used as a criterion for switching the second dryer container from regeneration mode to drying mode or to idle mode.For example, the control unit can be configured to check, as part of the monitoring process, whether the heating output drops significantly within a short period of time or falls below a threshold value, and to use this to determine whether the first or second dryer container is sufficiently regenerated and to carry out a switchover process to a drying mode or a standby mode. According to a further embodiment, the operating parameter can be an electrical resistance of the first electrical heating element or an electrical resistance of the second electrical heating element. The control unit can accordingly have a resistance measuring circuit for determining the electrical resistance of the first electrical heating element and / or the second electrical heating element. The electrical resistance of the first electrical heating element can correlate with a temperature in the first dryer container.The electrical resistance of the second electrical heating element can correlate with a temperature in the second dryer container. By monitoring the electrical resistance of the first electrical heating element and / or the electrical resistance of the second electrical heating element, which can be done, for example, alternatively or in addition to monitoring the heating power of the first electrical heating element and / or the heating power of the second electrical heating element, the first electrical heating element and / or the second electrical heating element can be used indirectly as a temperature sensor. By monitoring the electrical resistance of the first electrical heating element, for example, can be used as a criterion for switching the first dryer container from drying mode to regeneration mode.Through monitoring, the electrical resistance of the second electrical heating element can be used, for example, as a criterion for switching the second dryer container from drying mode to regeneration mode. For example, the control unit can be configured to check, as part of the monitoring, whether the electrical resistance of the first electrical heating element exceeds a threshold value, and from this, to derive an overheated state of the first dryer container and to carry out a switching process to regeneration mode or idle mode. For example, the control unit can be configured to check, as part of the monitoring, whether the electrical resistance of the second electrical heating element exceeds a threshold value, and from this, to derive an overheated state of the second dryer container and to carry out a switching process to regeneration mode or idle mode.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the air dryer assembly can have a bypass line bypassing the first dryer container and the second dryer container, and the valve assembly can have a controllable bypass valve for selectively connecting the air compressor connection to the compressed air connection via the bypass line. This makes it possible to selectively use the drying function of the air dryer assembly to provide dried compressed air, for example, depending on a measured ambient humidity. By using the first and / or second dryer container only as needed to dry the compressed air, a high sorption capacity of the first desiccant and / or the second desiccant can be maintained over a longer period of time.Depending on the selected system architecture, the air dryer assembly can be configured to regenerate the first and / or second dryer container while the air compressor connection is connected to the compressed air connection via the bypass line. For this purpose, a compressed air reservoir of the air dryer assembly, the air pressure supply system, or a compressed air consumer of the vehicle can be used to provide regeneration air and can be connected to the first and / or second dryer container.

[0022] The invention also relates to a vehicle compressed air supply system with an air dryer arrangement according to one of the above-described features. The above-described advantages of particularly efficient air drying and regeneration of the first and / or second dryer container can also be achieved with the proposed vehicle compressed air supply system, thus resulting in an optimized vehicle compressed air supply system with dried compressed air provided by the air dryer arrangement. The vehicle compressed air supply system can be configured to supply at least one compressed air consumer of a vehicle with compressed air, for example, to supply an air suspension system or a sensor cleaning system of the vehicle with compressed air. In addition to the air dryer arrangement, the vehicle compressed air supply system can have a compressor system with an air compressor as a component of the vehicle compressed air supply system.The vehicle compressed air supply system may additionally comprise a compressed air reservoir connectable to the first and / or second dryer container for selectively regenerating the first and / or second dryer container by means of stored compressed air.

[0023] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, with a compressed air supply system having an air dryer arrangement according to one of the above-described features. The above-described advantages of particularly efficient air drying and regeneration of the first and / or second dryer container can also be achieved with the proposed vehicle, thus resulting in a vehicle with an optimized compressed air supply system with dried compressed air provided by the air dryer arrangement. Optimizing the compressed air supply system can be particularly advantageous for vehicles with high compressed air consumption, as is the case with commercial vehicles such as semi-trailer trucks.In addition, the achievable optimization of the compressed air supply system can be advantageously used to provide compressed air that cannot be used as regeneration air, for example, when compressed air is provided for sensor cleaning systems for vehicle sensors. In vehicle air suspension systems, especially commercial vehicles, the compressed air can be used for regeneration during venting.

[0024] The invention further relates to a method for operating an air dryer arrangement according to one of the features described above, comprising the steps: - Provision of compressed air at the air compressor connection; - in a first operating cycle: ◯ Connect the first compressed air inlet line to the air compressor connection; o Supplying the compressed air via the first compressed air inlet line to the first dryer container, wherein the first compressed air inlet line and the second dryer container are arranged next to one another at least in sections and heat is transferred from the first compressed air line to the second dryer container; o Drying the compressed air in the first dryer vessel and parallel regeneration of the second dryer vessel; o Supplying the dried compressed air from the first dryer container to the compressed air connection; and o Supplying the moisture-containing regeneration air from the second dryer vessel to the vent port; - in a second operating cycle: ◯ Connect the second compressed air inlet line to the air compressor connection; ◯ Supplying the compressed air via the second compressed air inlet line to the second dryer container, wherein the second compressed air inlet line and the first dryer container are arranged next to one another at least in sections and heat is transferred from the second compressed air line to the first dryer container; ◯ Drying the compressed air in the second dryer vessel and parallel regeneration of the first dryer vessel; ◯ Supplying the dried compressed air from the second dryer vessel to the compressed air connection; and o Supplying the moisture-containing regeneration air from the first dryer vessel to the vent port; - the first and second operating cycles are carried out alternately.

[0025] The proposed method for operating an air dryer arrangement also makes it possible to achieve the above-described advantages of particularly efficient air drying and regeneration of the first and / or second dryer container. By alternately performing the first and second operating cycles, a temporally alternating, in particular complementary, operation of the first and second dryer containers in the drying mode and in the regeneration mode can be enabled. Depending on the system parameters of the air dryer arrangement, for example with regard to the size of the first and / or second dryer containers or the first desiccant and / or the second desiccant used, the first and second operating cycles can, for example, have a cycle duration in the range of a few minutes.Due to the heat transfer from the first compressed air line to the second dryer vessel, the advantageously heated second dryer vessel is regenerated in parallel when the compressed air is dried in the first dryer vessel. In particular, a heated second dryer vessel can be understood as a second dryer vessel with a heated second desiccant. Due to the heat transfer from the second compressed air line to the first dryer vessel, the advantageously heated first dryer vessel is regenerated in parallel when the compressed air is dried in the second dryer vessel. In particular, a heated first dryer vessel can be understood as a first dryer vessel with a heated first desiccant.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the method may comprise the following steps: - in the first operating cycle: o Connecting the first compressed air inlet line to the second compressed air inlet line via a throttle device; o Supplying a partial flow of the compressed air to the second dryer vessel via the throttle device and the second compressed air inlet line, wherein the second compressed air inlet line and the first dryer vessel are arranged at least partially next to one another and heat is transferred from the first dryer vessel to the partial flow in the second compressed air inlet line; and ◯ Regenerating the second dryer vessel using the partial flow of compressed air; - in the second operating cycle: ◯ Connecting the second compressed air inlet line to the first compressed air inlet line via a throttle device; ◯ Supplying a partial flow of the compressed air to the first dryer vessel via the throttle device and the first compressed air inlet line, wherein the first compressed air inlet line and the second dryer vessel are arranged at least partially next to one another and heat is transferred from the second dryer vessel to the partial flow in the first compressed air inlet line; and ◯ Regenerating the first dryer vessel using the partial flow of compressed air.

[0027] In this embodiment, a partial flow of the compressed air flow flowing through the first or second compressed air inlet line connected to the air compressor connection can be directed through the throttle device to the other first or second compressed air inlet line. The compressed air portion of the compressed air flow not flowing out via the throttle device can be passed on to the first or second dryer vessel in drying mode for drying, while the partial flow of the compressed air flow flowing out via the throttle device can form a regeneration air flow for the first or second dryer vessel in regeneration mode. The regeneration air flow can be expanded by the throttle device and cooled accordingly.Due to the proposed connection of the first and second compressed air inlet lines via the throttle device, the regeneration air flow, after expansion and cooling, can be guided through the other first or second compressed air inlet line, which is not directly connected to the air compressor connection, for heat transfer along the first or second dryer vessel in drying operation and there contribute to cooling the first or second dryer vessel in countercurrent to the air flow guided through the first or second dryer vessel, whereby on the one hand the drying efficiency is increased and on the other hand the regeneration air flow can be heated by heat absorption in order to increase the efficiency of the regeneration when the heated air flow is subsequently guided through the first or second dryer vessel in regeneration operation.Through the additional cooling of the first or second dryer vessel during drying operation, the air flow directed through the first or second dryer vessel can release more moisture, and through the heating of the first or second dryer vessel during regeneration operation, the regeneration air flow directed through the first or second dryer vessel can absorb more moisture. Connecting the first and second compressed air inlet lines via the throttle device has the further advantage that the expansion of the partial flow directed through the throttle device increases its volume flow, thereby further increasing the water absorption capacity of the regeneration air flow thus formed relative to a given air mass flow or relative to the provided regeneration air volume.If the throttle device is designed as a switchable throttle device, regeneration of the first or second dryer container provided for regeneration operation and cooling of the first or second dryer container in drying operation can be enabled optionally or as required, or, for example, switching can be made between regeneration by means of the compressed air provided on the input side or by means of stored compressed air from a compressed air reservoir of the air dryer arrangement.

[0028] In general, unless explicitly defined otherwise, the words “ein / eine” are not to be understood as numbers, but as indefinite articles with the literal meaning of “at least one”.

[0029] The invention permits various embodiments and is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. They show schematically: Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an air dryer arrangement for a compressed air supply system of a vehicle according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a first flowchart illustrating a drying and regeneration operation of a first and second dryer container of the air dryer assembly according to the first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a second flowchart illustrating a drying and regeneration operation of a first and second dryer container of the air dryer assembly according to the first embodiment; Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an air dryer arrangement for a compressed air supply system of a vehicle according to a second embodiment; Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an air dryer arrangement for a compressed air supply system of a vehicle according to a third embodiment; Fig. 6 a vehicle with a compressed air supply system having an air dryer arrangement according to an embodiment; Fig. 7 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating a method for operating an air dryer arrangement.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an air dryer arrangement 10 for an example in Fig. 6 shows a compressed air supply system 40 of a vehicle 50 according to a first embodiment. The air dryer arrangement 10 has an air compressor connection 11 that can be connected to an air compressor 41 of the compressed air supply system 40 for the inlet-side supply of, for example, Fig. 2 schematically shown compressed air L DW to the air dryer arrangement 10. The air compressor 41 can, for example, be an air compressor 41 of a Fig. 6 schematically indicated compressor system 56 of the vehicle 50 and be designed to compress ambient air pre-cleaned by means of a filter 42 upstream of the air compressor 41.

[0031] The air dryer assembly 10 comprises a first dryer container 12 and a second dryer container 13. The first dryer container 12 and the second dryer container 13 are designed for adsorption drying according to a sorption principle. A schematically indicated first drying agent 14a, for example, a zeolite, is arranged in the first dryer container 12 to absorb moisture when compressed air L flows through the first dryer container 12. DW In the second dryer container 13, a schematically indicated second desiccant 14b, for example a zeolite, is arranged to absorb moisture when compressed air L flows through the second dryer container 13. DWThe first dryer container 12 and the second dryer container 13 are, as shown in the Fig. 1 to 5, are connected in parallel. The first dryer container 12 and the second dryer container 13 can each be operated selectively in a drying mode T for drying the compressed air Low provided on the inlet side and in a regeneration mode R for regenerating the first drying agent 14a and the second drying agent 14b. Fig. In the state of the air dryer arrangement 10 shown in Figure 1, the first dryer container 12 is in drying mode T and the second dryer container 13 is in regeneration mode R.

[0032] The air dryer arrangement 10 has a compressed air connection 15 for the output-side provision of dried compressed air L DW for example in Fig. 6 shown compressed air consumer 51. While it is fundamentally conceivable to connect the compressed air connection 15 via a switchable outlet valve (not shown in detail) either to the first dryer container 12 via a first compressed air outlet line 25 or to the second dryer container 13 via a second compressed air outlet line 26, the compressed air connection 15 shown in Fig. A simplified circuit solution can be seen from the embodiment shown in Figure 1. Here, the first compressed air output line 25 is connected via an output branch line 29 and a first check valve 30 arranged in the output branch line 29, and the second compressed air output line 26 is connected to the compressed air connection 15 via the output branch line 29 and a second check valve 31 arranged in the output branch line 29.

[0033] The air dryer arrangement 10 has a vent connection 16 for removing moisture containing, for example, Fig. 2 schematically indicated regeneration air L RW , L RK The vent connection 16 is in accordance with the Fig. 1, the vent valve 27 can be selectively connected to a first compressed air outlet line 25 or to a second compressed air outlet line 26, wherein the first compressed air outlet line 25 is connected upstream to the first dryer container 12 and the second compressed air outlet line 26 is connected upstream to the second dryer container 13. The vent valve 27 can be designed, for example, as a 3 / 2-way valve.

[0034] The air dryer assembly 10 according to the first embodiment shown has a valve assembly 17 with valve devices 18 that can be controlled by a control unit 19 for selectively connecting the first dryer container 12 or the second dryer container 13 to the air compressor connection 11 and for selectively connecting the first dryer container 12 or the second dryer container 13 to the vent connection 16. Furthermore, the air dryer assembly 10 has a valve device 18 that can be controlled by the control unit 19 and is designed as a quick-vent valve 36 and can be used for quickly venting a component of the compressed air supply system 40 as needed. The quick-vent valve 36 can be designed, for example, as a 2 / 2-way valve. The control unit 19 can be connected to the controllable valve devices 18, for example, via electrical and / or pneumatic signal connections 54.

[0035] Again Fig. 1 and the river pictures in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, a first compressed air inlet line 20 optionally connecting the air compressor connection 11 with the first dryer container 12 is provided for heat transfer from the compressed air L provided on the inlet side. DW configured in that the first compressed air inlet line 20 and the second dryer container 13 are arranged at least partially adjacent to one another. Furthermore, a second compressed air inlet line 21, which selectively connects the air compressor connection 11 to the second dryer container 13, is configured to transfer heat from the compressed air Low provided on the inlet side to the first dryer container 12, in that the second compressed air inlet line 21 and the first dryer container 12 are arranged at least partially adjacent to one another.

[0036] The first compressed air inlet line 20 and the second compressed air inlet line 21 are arranged in accordance with the Fig. The first embodiment of the air dryer assembly 10 shown in Figure 1 can be connected to the air compressor connection 11 by means of a switchable inlet valve 24 of the valve assembly 17. The inlet valve 24 can be controlled, for example, by means of the control unit 19. The inlet valve 24 can be designed, for example, as a 3 / 2-way valve.

[0037] With the air dryer arrangement 10 according to the first embodiment, it is possible, due to the valve arrangement 17 configured for this purpose and with a corresponding configuration of the control unit 19, to operate the first dryer container 12 and the second dryer container 13 alternately and complementarily in the drying mode T and in the regeneration mode R. In complementary operation, the first dryer container 12 and the second dryer container 13 are designed such that the first dryer container 12 is operated in the drying mode T, while the second dryer container 13 is simultaneously operated in the regeneration mode R, and vice versa.

[0038] As in Fig. 1, according to the first embodiment shown, the first compressed air inlet line 20 and the second compressed air inlet line 21 are connected to one another by an inlet branch line 22, wherein a throttle device 23 is arranged in the inlet branch line 22. According to an embodiment not shown in detail, the throttle device 23 can be designed as a switchable throttle device 23. The functioning and advantages of the inlet branch line 22 and the throttle device 23 will be explained below with reference to the description of the flow diagrams in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is explained in more detail.

[0039] According to Fig. 1, the first dryer container 12 has a first electrical heating element 35a for controllable temperature control of the first dryer container 12, and the second dryer container 13 has a second electrical heating element 35b for controllable temperature control of the second dryer container 13. This allows for additional heating of the first dryer container 12 and / or the second dryer container 13 as needed. The first electrical heating element 35a and the second electrical heating element 35b are connected to the control unit 19 via electrical signal connections 54.The control unit 19 is configured to monitor an operating parameter B of the first electrical heating element 35a and an operating parameter B of the second electrical heating element 35b and to control the valve devices 18 of the valve arrangement 17 as a function of the operating parameter B, for example by controlling the inlet valve 24 and the vent valve 27 to switch the first dryer container 12 and the second dryer container 13 between a respective drying operation T and a respective regeneration operation R. The operating parameter B can, for example, be a heating power of the first electrical heating element 35a and a heating power of the second electrical heating element 35b, which correlates with a moisture content in the first desiccant 14a or in the second desiccant 14b.The operating parameter B can, for example, be an electrical resistance of the first electrical heating element 35a and an electrical resistance of the second electrical heating element 35b, which correlates with a temperature in the first dryer container 12 or the second dryer container 13. Accordingly, the first electrical heating element 35a and the second electrical heating element 35b can be used indirectly as a humidity sensor and / or temperature sensor, and the operating parameter B can be used as a criterion for switching the first dryer container 12 or the second dryer container 13 between a respective drying mode T and a respective regeneration mode R.

[0040] Fig. Fig. 2 shows a first flow chart illustrating a drying operation T of the first dryer container 12 and a regeneration operation R of the second dryer container 13 with the air dryer arrangement 10 according to the first embodiment. In the flow charts of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are flows of warm compressed air Low with hatched filled arrows, air flows of cold regeneration air L RK with solid-colored arrows and air flows of warm regeneration air L RW illustrated with dotted arrows. As the Fig. 2 based on the illustrated switching position of the inlet valve 24, in this case the first compressed air inlet line 20 is connected to the air compressor connection 11. Accordingly, when the air compressor 41 is activated, warm compressed air Low enters the first compressed air inlet line 20 and, according to the embodiment shown, is guided along the second dryer container 13 in an interior space of the second dryer container 13, so that heat transfer from the warm compressed air L DW in the first compressed air inlet line 20 to the second dryer container 13. Subsequently, the compressed air L, which has thus been slightly cooled but is still warm and contains moisture, is DW to the first dryer container 12 and there passed through the first desiccant 14a, so that the warm compressed air L DWMoisture can be released to the first desiccant 14a and leaves the first dryer container 12 in a drier state. The dried, warm compressed air Low is discharged via the first compressed air outlet line 25 and enters the outlet branch line 29, where it can flow through the second check valve 31 and is guided to the compressed air connection 15, where it can be supplied as dried compressed air, for example, to a compressed air consumer 51 of the vehicle 50 or to a compressed air reservoir 34.

[0041] Furthermore, in Fig. 2 shows that a partial flow L DWT the warm compressed air L DW from the first compressed air inlet line 20 into the inlet branch line 22 and is guided through a throttle device 23. As a result, the partial flow L DWT, which flows through the inlet branch line 22 and the throttle device 23 into the second compressed air inlet line 21, is expanded and cooled, so that an air flow with cold regeneration air L RK In addition, the expansion of the air flow in the throttle device 23 increases the volume flow and accordingly the water absorption capacity of the air flow with cold regeneration air L RK increased. The air flow with cold regeneration air L RK is guided in the second compressed air inlet line 21 in an interior of the first dryer container 12 along the first dryer container 12, so that a heat transfer from the first dryer container 12, in particular from the warm compressed air L flowing through it DW , to the second compressed air inlet line 21 with the air flow with cold regeneration air L RK This allows the cold regeneration air L RKheated and then exits as warm regeneration air L RW into the second dryer container 13 to regenerate it. Through the heat transfer from the first, the warm compressed air L to be dried DW leading pressure inlet line 20 to the second dryer vessel 13, the warm regeneration air L RW additionally heated and the regeneration efficiency further increased. The moisture-containing regeneration air L, which is then discharged via the second compressed air outlet line 26, RW is routed via the vent valve 27 to the vent port 16 and vented into the atmosphere. According to alternative embodiments, it is also conceivable to route the first compressed air inlet line 20 and the second compressed air inlet line 21 for heat transfer not through the interior, but along an outer side of the first dryer container 12 and / or the second dryer container 13.

[0042] Fig. 3 shows a second flow chart illustrating a drying operation T of the second dryer container 13 and a regeneration operation R of the first dryer container 12 with the air dryer arrangement 10 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 based on the illustrated switching position of the inlet valve 24, in this case the second compressed air inlet line 21 is connected to the air compressor connection 11. Accordingly, when the air compressor 41 is activated, warm compressed air Low enters the second compressed air inlet line 21 and, according to the embodiment shown, is guided along the first dryer container 12 in an interior space of the first dryer container 12, so that heat can be transferred from the warm compressed air Low in the second compressed air inlet line 21 to the first dryer container 12. Subsequently, the compressed air L, which has thereby been slightly cooled but is still warm and contains moisture, DWto the second dryer container 13 and there passed through the second desiccant 14b, so that the warm compressed air Low can release moisture to the second desiccant 14b and leaves the second dryer container 13 in a drier state. The dried, warm compressed air Low is discharged via the second compressed air outlet line 26 and enters the outlet branch line 29, where it can flow through the first check valve 30 and is led to the compressed air connection 15, at which it can be supplied as dried compressed air, for example, to a compressed air consumer 51 of the vehicle 50 or to a compressed air reservoir 34.

[0043] Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows that a partial flow L DWT the warm compressed air Low flows from the second compressed air inlet line 21 into the inlet branch line 22 and is guided through a throttle device 23. As a result, the partial flow L DWT, which flows through the inlet branch line 22 and the throttle device 23 into the first compressed air inlet line 20, is expanded and cooled, so that an air flow with cold regeneration air L RK In addition, the expansion of the air flow in the throttle device 23 increases the volume flow and accordingly the water absorption capacity of the air flow with cold regeneration air L RK increased. The air flow with cold regeneration air L RK is guided in the first compressed air inlet line 20 in an interior of the second dryer container 13 along the second dryer container 13, so that a heat transfer from the second dryer container 13, in particular from the warm compressed air L flowing through it DW , to the first compressed air inlet line 20 with the air flow with cold regeneration air L RK This allows the cold regeneration air L RKheated and then exits as warm regeneration air L RW into the first dryer container 12 to regenerate it. Through the heat transfer from the second, the warm compressed air L to be dried DW leading pressure inlet line 21 to the first dryer vessel 12, the warm regeneration air L RW additionally heated and the regeneration efficiency further increased. The moisture-containing regeneration air L, which is then discharged via the first compressed air outlet line 25, RW is led via the vent valve 27 to the vent connection 16 and released into the atmosphere.

[0044] Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an air dryer arrangement 10 for a compressed air supply system 40 of a vehicle 50 according to a second embodiment. As can be seen from the schematic diagram, the first dryer container 12 and / or the second dryer container 13 can be selectively connected to a compressed air reservoir 34 for regeneration. This allows already dried compressed air to be used to regenerate the first dryer container 12 and the second dryer container 13. For this purpose, the air dryer arrangement 10 can have a switchable compressed air reservoir valve 37, which can be controlled, for example, by means of the control unit 19 and can be designed, for example, as a 2 / 2-way valve. The compressed air reservoir 34 can be connected to the first and / or second compressed air inlet line 20, 21 via the compressed air reservoir valve 37 and a separate compressed air reservoir line 38. The compressed air reservoir line 38 can be configured as shown in Fig. 4, the first compressed air inlet line 20 can be connected via a third check valve 33 and a throttle device 23, and the second compressed air inlet line 21 can be connected via a fourth check valve 34 and a throttle device 23. The third and fourth check valves 33, 34 can prevent compressed air from flowing out of the first compressed air inlet line 20 or from the second compressed air inlet line 21 into the compressed air storage line 38.

[0045] Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an air dryer assembly 10 for a compressed air supply system 40 of a vehicle 50 according to a third embodiment. From the schematic diagram, it can be seen that the air dryer assembly 10 has a bypass line 60 bypassing the first dryer container 12 and the second dryer container 13, and that the valve assembly 17 has a controllable bypass valve 61 for selectively connecting the air compressor connection 11 to the compressed air connection 15 via the bypass line 60. Furthermore, the air dryer assembly 10 has a valve assembly 17 adapted to the third embodiment, with two inlet valves 24 for individually connecting the first compressed air inlet line 20 and the second compressed air inlet line 21 to the air compressor 41, as well as with two vent valves 27 for individually connecting the first compressed air outlet line 25 and the second compressed air outlet line 26 to the vent connection 16.By providing a bypass path via the bypass line 60 and the controllable bypass valve 61, it is possible to selectively use the drying function of the air dryer arrangement 10 to provide dried compressed air, for example depending on a measured ambient air humidity, so that a high sorption capacity of the first desiccant 14a and the second desiccant 14b can be maintained for a longer period.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows a vehicle 50 with a compressed air supply system 40 having an air dryer arrangement 10 according to an exemplary embodiment in which the vehicle 50 is designed as a commercial vehicle with a tractor 52 and a trailer 53. The compressed air supply system 40 of the vehicle 50 is arranged in the tractor 52. The compressed air supply system 40 can, for example, have a compressor system 56 with a previously described air compressor 41, which is fluidly connected to the air dryer arrangement 10. The compressed air supply system 40 can have a control unit 19 for controlling components of the compressed air supply system 40, for example the compressor system 56 and the air dryer arrangement 10. Via compressed air lines 55, the compressed air supply system 40 can be connected to compressed air consumers 51, which can, for example, be designed as bellows of an air suspension of the vehicle 50.In addition, the trailer vehicle 53 has a compressed air reservoir 34 for temporarily storing compressed air, so that the compressed air consumers 51 of the trailer vehicle 53 can be supplied with compressed air as needed. The compressed air reservoir 34 is also connected to the compressed air supply system 40 of the vehicle 50 via a compressed air line 55.

[0047] Fig.7 shows a simplified flowchart illustrating a general method sequence of a method 100 for operating an air dryer arrangement 10. The air dryer arrangement 10 can be designed in particular according to one of the previously described embodiments, so that the following description relates to the previously described components of the air dryer arrangement 10. The flowchart shows that after a start 101 of the method 100, a first operating cycle Z1 and a second operating cycle Z2 are repeatedly carried out alternately until the method 100 is terminated, for example by a control-related specification, with an end 130 of the method 100. During the first operating cycle Z1 and during the second operating cycle Z2, low compressed air is provided at the air compressor connection 11 of the air dryer arrangement 10.

[0048] In the first operating cycle Z1, in a first step 110, the first compressed air inlet line 20 is connected to the air compressor connection 11. In a second step 111, the compressed air Low is supplied via the first compressed air inlet line 20 to the first dryer container 12, wherein the first compressed air inlet line 20 and the second dryer container 13 are arranged at least partially next to one another and heat is transferred from the first compressed air line 20 to the second dryer container 13. According to a third step 112, the compressed air L is dried. DW in the first dryer container 12 and a parallel regeneration of the second dryer container 13. In a fourth step 113, the dried compressed air L is supplied DW from the first dryer container 12 to the compressed air connection 15. According to a fifth step 114, a supply of the moisture-containing regeneration air L RK , LRW from the second dryer container 13 to the vent connection 16.

[0049] In the second operating cycle Z2, in a sixth step 120, the second compressed air inlet line 21 is connected to the air compressor connection 11. In a seventh step 121, the compressed air L is supplied DW via the second compressed air inlet line 21 to the second dryer container 13, wherein the second compressed air inlet line 21 and the first dryer container 12 are arranged at least partially next to one another and heat is transferred from the second compressed air line 21 to the first dryer container 12. According to an eighth step 122, the compressed air Low is dried in the second dryer container 13 and the first dryer container 12 is regenerated in parallel. In a ninth step 123, the dried compressed air L is supplied DWfrom the second dryer container 13 to the compressed air connection 15. According to a sixth step 124, a supply of the moisture-containing regeneration air L RK , L RW from the first dryer container to the vent port 16.

[0050] As a precaution, it is pointed out that the steps of the method 100 described above are not to be regarded as strictly chronologically consecutive, but rather serve to structure the process sequence conceptually and functionally and can therefore take place at least partially simultaneously within the first operating cycle Z1 or within the second operating cycle Z2.

[0051] According to a further development of the method described above, which is not shown in more detail, it is conceivable that in the first operating cycle Z1, the first compressed air inlet line 20 is connected to the second compressed air inlet line 21 via a throttle device 23, a partial flow L DWT the compressed air L DW to the second dryer container 13 via the throttle device and the second compressed air inlet line 21, wherein the second compressed air inlet line 21 and the first dryer container 21 are arranged at least partially next to each other and heat from the first dryer container 12 is transferred to the partial flow L OWT in the second compressed air inlet line, and the second dryer container 13 by means of the partial flow L DWTthe compressed air Low is regenerated. Furthermore, it is conceivable that in the second operating cycle Z2, the second compressed air inlet line 21 is connected to the first compressed air inlet line 20 via a throttle device 23, a partial flow L DWT the compressed air Low is supplied to the first dryer container 12 via the throttle device 23 and the first compressed air inlet line 20, wherein the first compressed air inlet line 20 and the second dryer container 13 are arranged at least partially next to each other and heat from the second dryer container 13 is transferred to the partial flow L DWT in the first compressed air inlet line 20, and the first dryer container 12 by means of the partial flow L DWT the compressed air L DW is regenerated.

[0052] Using the above-described air dryer assembly 10, the compressed air supply system 40, the vehicle 50, and the method 100 for operating an air dryer assembly 10, it is possible to optimize the drying of compressed air and the regeneration of the first desiccant 14a of the first dryer container 12 and the second desiccant 14b of the second dryer container 13, and to achieve high drying and regeneration efficiency. Through a clever arrangement of the components of the air dryer assembly 10, waste heat from the compressed compressed air can be utilized in such a way that the efficiency of the air dryer assembly 10 is improved without significant additional costs or an increase in the weight of the compressed air supply system 40. With the proposed air dryer assembly 10, an energy-optimized and economical air drying process can be implemented. Reference symbol (part of the description) 10 Air dryer arrangement 11 Air compressor connection 12 first dryer container 13 second dryer container 14a first desiccant 14b second desiccant 15 Compressed air connection 16 Vent connection 17 Valve arrangement 18 Valve device 19 Control unit 20 first compressed air inlet line 21 second compressed air inlet line 22 Input branch line 23 Throttle device 24 Inlet valve 25 first compressed air outlet line 26 second compressed air outlet line 27 vent valve 28 Outlet valve 29 Output branch line 30 first check valve 31 second check valve 32 third check valve 33 fourth check valve 34 compressed air storage 35a first electric heating element 35b second electric heating element 36 Quick exhaust valve 37 compressed air storage valve 38 Compressed air storage line 40 Compressed air supply system 41 air compressors 42 filters 50 vehicles 51 compressed air consumers 52 towing vehicle 53 trailer vehicle 54 Signal connection 55 Compressed air line 60 bypass line 61 Bypass valve 100 Methods for operating an air dryer arrangement 101 Start 110 Connect 1. Compressed air inlet line with air compressor connection 111 Compressed air supply 1. Dryer vessel and heat 2. Dryer vessel 112 Drying Compressed Air 1. Dryer vessel, Regeneration 2. Dryer vessel 113 Compressed air supply 1. Dryer container to compressed air connection 114 Regeneration air supply 2nd dryer container to vent connection 120 Connect 2nd compressed air inlet line to air compressor connection 121 Compressed air supply 2nd dryer vessel and heat 1st dryer vessel 122 Drying compressed air 2nd dryer vessel, regeneration 1st dryer vessel 123 Compressed air supply 2. Dryer container to compressed air connection 124 Regeneration air supply 1. Dryer container to vent connection 130 End B Operating parameters Low warm compressed air L DWR Partial flow of warm compressed air L RK cold regeneration air L RW warm regeneration air R Regeneration mode T Drying operation Z1 first operating cycle Z2 second operating cycle QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2015 219 618 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Air dryer arrangement (10) for a compressed air supply system (40) of a vehicle (50), comprising: - an air compressor connection (11) connectable to an air compressor (41) of the compressed air supply system (40) for the inlet-side supply of compressed air (L DW ) to the air dryer arrangement (10), - a first dryer container (12) with a first desiccant (14a) and a second dryer container (13) with a second desiccant (14b) for absorbing moisture when compressed air (L) flows through the first dryer container (12) and / or the second dryer container (13). DW ), wherein the first dryer container (12) and the second dryer container (13) are connected in parallel and can be selected to operate in a drying mode (T) for drying the compressed air supplied on the input side (L DW) and are operable in a regeneration plant (R) for the regeneration of the first desiccant (14a) and / or the second desiccant (14b), - a compressed air connection (15) for the outlet-side provision of dried compressed air (L DW ) for a compressed air consumer (51), - a vent connection (16) for the removal of moisture-containing regeneration air (L RK , L RW ), and - a valve arrangement (17) with a valve device (18) that can be controlled by a control unit (19) for optionally connecting the first dryer hopper (12) or the second dryer hopper (13) to the air compressor connection (11), the compressed air connection (15) and / or the vent connection (16), characterized by , that - a first compressed air inlet line (20) optionally connecting the air compressor connection (11) with the first dryer container (12) for heat transfer from the compressed air supplied on the inlet side (L DW ) is set up on the second dryer hopper (13) by arranging the first compressed air inlet line (20) and the second dryer hopper (13) at least sectionally next to each other, and - a second compressed air inlet line (21) optionally connecting the air compressor connection (11) with the second dryer container (13) for heat transfer from the compressed air supplied on the inlet side (L DW ) is set up at the first dryer container (12) by arranging the second compressed air inlet line (21) and the first dryer container (12) at least sectionally next to each other. [2] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to claim 1, wherein the air dryer arrangement (10) is designed to operate the first dryer container (12) and the second dryer container (13) alternately complementarily in the drying operation (T) and in the regeneration operation (R). [3] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the first compressed air inlet line (20) and the second compressed air inlet line (21) are connected to each other by an inlet branch line (22), wherein a throttling device (23) is arranged in the inlet branch line (22). [4] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the throttle device (23) is designed as a switchable throttle device (23). [5] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the first compressed air inlet line (20) and the second compressed air inlet line (21) can be connected to the air compressor connection (11) by means of a switchable inlet valve (24) of the valve arrangement (17). [6] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a first compressed air outlet line (25) connecting the first dryer container (12) to the vent connection (16) and / or to the compressed air connection (15) and a second compressed air outlet line (26) connecting the second dryer container (13) to the vent connection (16) and / or to the compressed air connection (15) can be optionally connected to the vent connection (16) and / or to the compressed air connection (15) by means of a vent valve (27) and / or optionally to the compressed air connection (15) by means of an outlet valve (28). [7] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to claim 6, characterized by, that the first compressed air outlet line (25) is connected to the compressed air connection (15) via an outlet branch line (29) and a first check valve (30) arranged in the outlet branch line (29) and the second compressed air outlet line (26) is connected to the compressed air connection (15) via the outlet branch line (29) and a second check valve (31) arranged in the outlet branch line (29). [8] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first dryer container (12) and / or the second dryer container (13) can optionally be connected to a compressed air reservoir (34) for regeneration. [9] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that a first electric heating element (35a) for controllable temperature control of the first dryer container (12) and / or that a second electric heating element (35b) for controllable temperature control of the second dryer container (13) is arranged on the first dryer container (12). [10] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to claim 9, characterized by , that the first electric heating element (35a) and / or the second electric heating element (35b) is or are connected to the control unit (19) for controlling the valve device (18) of the valve arrangement (17) and that the control unit (19) is configured to monitor an operating parameter (B) of the first electric heating element (35a) and / or the second electric heating element (35b) and to control the valve device (18) of the valve arrangement (17) depending on the operating parameter (B). [11] Air dryer arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the air dryer arrangement (10) has a bypass line (60) bypassing the first dryer container (12) and the second dryer container (13) and that the valve arrangement (17) has a controllable bypass valve (61) for selectively connecting the air compressor connection (11) to the compressed air connection (15) via the bypass line (60). [12] Vehicle compressed air supply system (40) with an air dryer arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims. [13] Vehicle (50), in particular commercial vehicle, with a compressed air supply system (40) comprising an air dryer arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 11. [14] Method (100) for operating an air dryer arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the steps: - Provision of compressed air (L DW ) at the air compressor connection (11); - in a first operating cycle (Z1): ◯ Connect the first compressed air inlet line (20) to the air compressor connection (11) (110); ◯ Compressed air supply (L DW ) via the first compressed air inlet line (20) to the first dryer hopper (12), wherein the first compressed air inlet line (20) and the second dryer hopper (13) are arranged at least sectionally next to each other and heat is transferred from the first compressed air line (20) to the second dryer hopper (13) (111); ◯ Drying the compressed air (L DW ) in the first dryer container (12) and parallel regeneration of the second dryer container (13) (112); ◯ Supply of dried compressed air (L DW ) from the first dryer container (12) to the compressed air connection (15) (113); and ◯ Supply of moisture-containing regeneration air (L RK , L RW) from the second dryer container (13) to the vent connection (16) (114); - in a second operating cycle (Z2): ◯ Connect the second compressed air inlet line (21) to the air compressor connection (11) (120); o Supply of compressed air (L DW ) via the second compressed air inlet line (21) to the second dryer hopper (13), wherein the second compressed air inlet line (21) and the first dryer hopper (12) are arranged at least sectionally next to each other and heat is transferred from the second compressed air line (21) to the first dryer hopper (12) (121); o Drying the compressed air (L DW ) in the second dryer container (13) and parallel regeneration of the first dryer container (12) (122); o Supply of dried compressed air (L DW ) from the second dryer container (13) to the compressed air connection (15) (123); and o Supply of moisture-containing regeneration air (L RK , L RW ) from the first dryer container (12) to the vent connection (16) (124); - whereby the first and second operating cycles (Z1, Z2) are performed alternately. [15] Method (100) according to claim 14, comprising the steps: - in the first operating cycle (Z1): ◯ Connecting the first compressed air inlet line (20) to the second compressed air inlet line (21) via a throttling device (23); ◯ Supplying a partial flow (L DWR ) the compressed air (L DW ) to the second dryer hopper (13) via the throttling device (23) and the second compressed air inlet line (21), wherein the second compressed air inlet line (21) and the first dryer hopper (21) are arranged at least sectionally next to each other and heat from the first dryer hopper (12) to the partial flow (L OWT) is transferred in the second compressed air inlet line (21); and ◯ Regenerating the second dryer container (13) using the partial flow (L OWT ) the compressed air (L DW ); - in the second operating cycle (Z2): o Connecting the second compressed air inlet line (21) to the first compressed air inlet line (20) via a throttling device (23); o Supply of a partial current (L DWT ) the compressed air (L DW ) to the first dryer hopper (12) via the throttling device (23) and the first compressed air inlet line (20), wherein the first compressed air inlet line (20) and the second dryer hopper (13) are arranged at least sectionally next to each other and heat is transferred from the second dryer hopper (13) to the partial flow (L DWT ) is transferred in the first compressed air inlet line (20); and o Regenerating the first dryer container (12) using the partial flow (L DWT) the compressed air (L DW ).

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