Gastrockner

Abstract

Gas dryer (3) for drying hydrogen gas of an electrical device (1) in which the hydrogen gas is enclosed, wherein the gas dryer comprises: a first drying tower (4) containing a first desiccant (6); and a second drying tower (5) containing a second desiccant (7); and a cooler (14) equipped with an air compressor (33) for supplying dry compressed air, wherein either the first drying tower (4) or the second drying tower (5) is connected to a drying circuit side (A) for drying the hydrogen gas of the electrical device (1), and another of the first drying tower (4) or the second drying tower (5) is connected to a reactivation circuit side (B) for reactivating the first desiccant (6) or second desiccant (7) contained therein, The cooler (14) is located on the reactivation circuit side (B) and, by means of a vortex principle that uses dry compressed air, generates air with a temperature whose maximum temperature difference from the dry compressed air is -75°C and which enables condensation of moisture in the hydrogen gas on the reactivation circuit side (B) and thus cooling of the hydrogen gas.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a gas dryer. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In a conventional gas dryer, a Peltier element is used for the cooling section of a reactivation cycle. This element is relatively inexpensive and can be operated solely with electricity (see, for example, patent specification 1). Patent specification 2 relates to an actively cooled steam preconcentrator. Patent specification 3 relates to a vortex tube. QUOTE LIST PATENT DOCUMENT Patent Document 1: JP 2008-29092 A Patent document 2: US 2010 / 0236341 A1 Patent document 3: US 2014 / 0083063 A1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS THAT THE INVENTION IS INTENDED TO SOLVE.

[0003] Hydrogen gas typically flows through the interior of the gas dryer, necessitating explosion protection. Since the Peltier element is used by attaching it directly to the cooling unit, it is difficult to locate it outside of an explosion-proof area. Furthermore, because the Peltier element itself lacks an explosion-proof structure, the entire assembly, including the mounting hardware, requires a special structure designed for explosion protection, resulting in increased costs.

[0004] The present disclosure was made to solve the above problem, and one objective of the present disclosure is to provide a gas dryer that enables cost reduction without the need for a special structure. SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0005] According to the present disclosure, a gas dryer with the features of claim 1 is proposed. IMPACT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The gas dryer according to the present disclosure enables a cost reduction without the need for a special structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [ Fig. 1] Fig. Figure 1 is a system diagram showing a gas dryer according to embodiment 1. [ Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a system diagram that shows the relationship between the in Fig. 1 shows a gas dryer and an electric rotary machine. [ Fig. 3] Fig. Figure 3 is a system diagram showing a gas dryer according to embodiment 2. DESCRIPTION OF EXECUTION FORMS Execution form 1

[0007] Fig. Figure 1 is a system diagram showing a gas dryer according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a system diagram that shows the relationship between the in Fig. Figure 1 shows a gas dryer and an electric rotary machine. The embodiment 1 is described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. In the first line 2 and the second line 30, a gas dryer 3 is connected to an electric rotary machine 1, which serves as the electrical device. Hydrogen gas is enclosed in the electric rotary machine 1 for cooling. The gas dryer 3 draws the hydrogen gas from inside the electric rotary machine 1 via the first line 2, dries the hydrogen gas, and then releases it into the electric rotary machine 1 via the second line 30.

[0008] The gas dryer 3 is a two-tower dryer and comprises a first drying tower 4 and a second drying tower 5. A first desiccant 6 is located in the first drying tower 4. A second desiccant 7 is located in the second drying tower 5. In the gas dryer 3, either the first drying tower 4 or the second drying tower 5 is connected to a drying circuit side A for drying the hydrogen gas of the electric rotary engine 1, and the other side of the first drying tower 4 or the second drying tower 5 is connected to a reactivation circuit side B for reactivating the first desiccant 6 or second desiccant 7 located therein.

[0009] The first drying tower 4 is equipped with a first heater 8 for reactivating the first desiccant 6. The second drying tower 5 is equipped with a second heater 9 for reactivating the second desiccant 7. On the inlet side of the first drying tower 4 and the second drying tower 5, there is a first four-way valve 10 for switching the first drying tower 4 and the second drying tower 5 between the drying circuit side A and the reactivation circuit side B. On the outlet side of the first drying tower 4 and the second drying tower 5, there is a second four-way valve 11 for switching the first drying tower 4 and the second drying tower 5 between the drying circuit side A and the reactivation circuit side B.

[0010] On the reactivation circuit side B, a reactivation blower 12 is located for gas circulation. A supply unit 13 is provided for controlling and supplying air from outside the gas dryer 3. The supply unit 13 can also supply compressed air. The supply unit 13 is equipped with a first supply line 16 for supplying compressed air to a cooler 14, which will be described later. A first solenoid valve 17 is provided for controlling the air supplied through the first supply line 16.

[0011] The cooler 14 is designed to generate air (low-temperature air) at a temperature at which moisture in the gas condenses on the reactivation circuit side B. The cooler 14 is based on a vortex principle and, using only compressed air supplied via the first supply line 16 from the supply unit 13, emits low-temperature air at a maximum temperature difference, e.g., -75 °C, to the temperature of the compressed air, without using a power supply or chlorofluorocarbon gas.

[0012] An outlet unit 15 is provided for releasing the water condensed by the cooler 14 to the outside of the gas dryer 3. A first safety valve 18 is provided for the first drying tower 4 to control a forceful gas release from the interior. A second safety valve 19 is provided for the second drying tower 5 to control a forceful gas release from the interior. A second solenoid valve 20 is provided for controlling the pressure in the first drying tower 4 or in the second drying tower 5 on the reactivation circuit side B. A third solenoid valve 21 is provided for switching the first four-way valve 10 and the second four-way valve 11.

[0013] A first temperature measuring element 22 is provided for measuring the temperature of the first heater 8. A second temperature measuring element 23 is provided for measuring the temperature of the second heater 9. A third temperature measuring element 24 is provided for measuring the temperature of the first desiccant 6. A fourth temperature measuring element 25 is provided for measuring the temperature of the second desiccant 7. A first pressure transmitter 26 is provided for measuring the pressure in the first drying tower 4. A second pressure transmitter 27 is provided for measuring the pressure in the second drying tower 5.

[0014] A first dew point measuring device 28 is provided for measuring the dew point on the inlet side of the gas dryer 3. A second dew point measuring device 29 is provided for measuring the dew point on the outlet side of the gas dryer 3. An exhaust duct 31 is provided for venting gas from the gas dryer 3. A second supply duct 32 is provided for supplying air from the supply unit 13 for the operation of the first four-way valve 10 and the second four-way valve 11.

[0015] Next, the operation of the gas dryer 3 of embodiment 1, which is carried out as described above, will be described. First, hydrogen gas, enclosed in the electric rotary engine 1, flows through the first line 2 into the gas dryer 3 and is dried in the gas dryer 3. Subsequently, the hydrogen gas is returned to the electric rotary engine 1 via the second line 30. The gas dryer 3 comprises two towers: the first drying tower 4 and the second drying tower 5.

[0016] In operation, either the first drying tower 4 or the second drying tower 5 is connected to the drying circuit side A for drying the hydrogen gas of the electric rotary machine 1, and the other of the first drying tower 4 or the second drying tower 5 is connected to the reactivation circuit side B for reactivating the first desiccant 6 or second desiccant 7 provided therein.

[0017] It is initially assumed that the first drying tower 4 is connected to drying circuit side A and the second drying tower 5 to reactivation circuit side B. Thus, the first drying tower 4, as drying circuit side A, is connected to the electric rotary machine 1 via the first line 2 and the second line 30. The second drying tower 5, as reactivation circuit side B, is connected to the second desiccant 7, where the cooler 14, the outlet unit 15, the blower 12, and the like are located.

[0018] Therefore, the hydrogen gas, which is directed to the gas dryer 3, is directed via the first four-way valve 10 and the second four-way valve 11 into the first drying tower 4, which is connected to the electric rotary machine 1. Subsequently, the hydrogen gas directed to the first drying tower 4 is dehumidified by the first desiccant 6 in the first drying tower 4, and the dried hydrogen gas is directed through the second line 30 to be returned to the electric rotary machine 1.

[0019] If the first desiccant 6 sufficiently dehumidifies the moisture in the hydrogen gas at this point, a reading from the second dew point meter 29 at the outlet of the gas dryer 3 will show a low value. However, if the first desiccant 6 absorbs a large amount of moisture and approaches an absorption limit, the moisture in the hydrogen gas will not be completely dehumidified, and the hydrogen gas, which still contains some moisture, will be discharged from the first drying tower 4, so that a reading from the second dew point meter 29 will show a high value.

[0020] If a measurement from the second dew point meter 29 exceeds a certain value (which can be set as desired), the third solenoid valve 21 is actuated to switch the first four-way valve 10 and the second four-way valve 11. As a result, the first drying tower 4, which is connected to the electric rotary machine 1 as drying circuit side A, is switched to the reactivation circuit side B, while the second drying tower 5 is switched to drying circuit side A. That is, the second drying tower 5, which is connected to drying circuit side A, is connected to the electric rotary machine 1 and thus dehumidifies moisture in the hydrogen gas of the electric rotary machine 1 in the same way as in the case above.

[0021] Next, in the first drying tower 4, which is connected to the reactivation circuit side B, the first desiccant 6 is reactivated. If the reading from the first pressure transmitter 26, which is provided for the first drying tower 4, indicates a value higher than atmospheric pressure, the second solenoid valve 20 opens to vent the hydrogen gas via the exhaust line 31 to the outside of the gas dryer 3 until the reading reaches atmospheric pressure. Once the pressure in the first drying tower 4 has subsequently dropped to atmospheric pressure, the second solenoid valve 20 closes.

[0022] Next, the blower 12 is operated to circulate gas on the reactivation circuit side B (the gas on the reactivation circuit side B refers to gas flowing through a pipe, device, and the like on the reactivation circuit side B, and is specifically hydrogen gas containing moisture), and the first heater 8 is switched on. The temperature of the first heater 8 is regulated to be constant based on measurement results from the first temperature measuring element 22 and the third temperature measuring element 24.

[0023] Next, when the high-temperature gas heated by the first heater 8 is directed to the first desiccant 6, moisture absorbed in the first desiccant 6 is transferred to the hydrogen gas, thus humidifying it. The humidified hydrogen gas is then directed to the cooler 14. In the cooler 14, compressed air supplied by the supply unit 13 is used to generate air at a temperature sufficient to condense moisture in the gas on the reactivation circuit side B (hereinafter referred to as low-temperature air). The hydrogen gas is then cooled by the low-temperature air in the cooler 14, causing any moisture in the hydrogen gas to condense.

[0024] It should be noted that if compressed air containing moisture is used for the cooler 14, there is a possibility that the compressed air will freeze when it becomes the low-temperature air inside the cooler 14, thus causing a blockage inside the cooler 14. Therefore, it is necessary to supply compressed air that is sufficiently dry to prevent blockages inside the cooler 14.

[0025] The condensed water is then collected in the outlet unit 15 and discharged onto the outside of the gas dryer 3. The hydrogen gas, from which moisture has been removed by the cooler 14, is directed by the blower 12 into the first drying tower 4 and reheated by the first heater 8 to reactivate the first desiccant 6. After the reactivation process for the first desiccant 6 has been carried out for a certain period of time, the first heater 8, the cooler 14, and the blower 12 are stopped, and the first drying tower 4 waits until it is switched back to drying circuit side A.

[0026] As described above, the gas dryer 3 connects the first drying tower 4 and the second drying tower 5 between the drying circuit side A and the reactivation circuit side B, allowing hydrogen gas to be dried in the electric rotary machine 1 at any time.

[0027] In the embodiment 1 above, a two-tower drying tower is shown as an example of the gas dryer 3. However, without limitation, it is also possible to perform the same operation as in embodiment 1 above when using a drying tower with three or more towers, by connecting one of the towers to the drying circuit side A and another to the reactivation circuit side B. The same applies to the other embodiment below, and therefore its description is omitted accordingly.

[0028] In the description above, the electric rotary machine 1 is shown as an example of an electrical device. However, the same operation can also be carried out for another electrical device that uses hydrogen gas for cooling and needs to dry the hydrogen gas. The same applies to the other embodiment below, and therefore its description is omitted accordingly.

[0029] The gas dryer according to embodiment 1, configured as described above, is a gas dryer for drying hydrogen gas from an electrical device in which the hydrogen gas is enclosed, the gas dryer comprising: a first drying tower containing a first desiccant; and a second drying tower containing a second desiccant. Either the first drying tower or the second drying tower is connected to a drying circuit for drying the hydrogen gas from the electrical device, and another of the first drying tower or the second drying tower is connected to a reactivation circuit for reactivating the first or second desiccant contained therein.The gas dryer includes a cooler located on the reactivation circuit side, which, with the supply of compressed air, generates air at a temperature that allows condensation of moisture in the hydrogen gas on the reactivation circuit side.

[0030] Since any desiccant can be reactivated by the compressed air-operated cooler, considerations regarding explosion protection of hydrogen gas are only necessary to a limited extent, the design is simplified and costs can be reduced. Design 2

[0031] Fig. Figure 3 shows the design of a gas dryer according to embodiment 2. Fig.In 3, the same parts as in the above embodiment 1 are designated with the same reference numerals, and their descriptions have been omitted. In the above embodiment 1, the example was shown in which compressed air for the cooler 14 is supplied from the outside of the gas dryer 3. However, without limiting the above, an air compressor 33 is provided in the gas dryer 3 for supplying the cooler 14 with compressed air.

[0032] As described in embodiment 1 above, compressed air containing moisture freezes when used for the cooler 14, as it becomes low-temperature air within the cooler 14, leading to blockages. Depending on the environment surrounding the supply unit 13, which is located outside the gas dryer 3, dry compressed air may not be supplied. Therefore, in embodiment 2, the air compressor 33, which can supply the cooler 14 with dry compressed air, is located within the gas dryer 3. The other components, apart from the air compressor 33, are identical to those in embodiment 1 above, and the same operation is performed. Therefore, their description is omitted.

[0033] The gas dryer according to embodiment 2, which is designed as described above, achieves the same effects as in embodiment 1 above.

[0034] In addition, the cooler is equipped with an air compressor to supply compressed air.

[0035] Even in environments where compressed air cannot be supplied from the outside, it is easily possible to supply the cooler with compressed air via the air compressor, thus enabling the use of the gas dryer.

[0036] Although the disclosure above is described in relation to various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functions described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the specific embodiment with which it is described, but can instead be applied alone or in various combinations to one or more of the embodiments of the disclosure.

[0037] It is therefore understood that numerous modifications, not shown by way of example, can be developed without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, at least one of the components can be changed, added, or eliminated. At least one of the components mentioned in at least one of the preferred embodiments can be selected and combined with the components mentioned in another preferred embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE MARKS 1 electric rotary machine 2 first line 3 gas dryers 4 first drying tower 5 second drying tower 6 first desiccant 7 second desiccant 8 first heating 9 second heating 10 first four-way valve 11 second four-way valve 12 blowers 13 supply unit 14 coolers 15 outlet unit 16 first supply line 17 first solenoid valve 18 first safety valve 19 second safety valve 20 second solenoid valve 21 third solenoid valve 22 first temperature measuring element 23 second temperature measuring element 24 third temperature measuring element 25 fourth temperature measuring element 26 first pressure transmitter 27 second pressure transmitter 28 first dew point measuring device 29 second dew point measuring device 30 second line 31 Exhaust duct 32 second supply line 33 Air compressor

Claims

[1] Gas dryer (3) for drying hydrogen gas of an electrical device (1) in which the hydrogen gas is enclosed, the gas dryer comprising: a first drying tower (4) containing a first desiccant (6); and a second drying tower (5) containing a second desiccant (7); and a cooler (14) equipped with an air compressor (33) for supplying dry compressed air, wherein either the first drying tower (4) or the second drying tower (5) is connected to a drying circuit side (A) for drying the hydrogen gas of the electrical device (1), and another of the first drying tower (4) or the second drying tower (5) is connected to a reactivation circuit side (B) for reactivating the first desiccant (6) or second desiccant (7) contained therein, The cooler (14) is located on the reactivation circuit side (B) and, by means of a vortex principle that uses dry compressed air, generates air with a temperature whose maximum temperature difference from the dry compressed air is -75°C and which enables condensation of moisture in the hydrogen gas on the reactivation circuit side (B) and thus cooling of the hydrogen gas.

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