Compressed Air Dehumidifier

The two-stage heat exchanger system with a strategically placed temperature sensor in the gas-liquid separation channel of the compressed air dehumidifier accurately detects dew point temperature, addressing the need for precise cooling load control and ensuring stable dehumidification performance.

JP7743073B2Active Publication Date: 2025-09-24ORION MACHINERY CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2022193934
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-12-05
Publication Date
2025-09-24
Estimated Expiration
2042-12-05

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing compressed air dehumidifiers with two-stage heat exchangers lack an appropriate arrangement of a temperature sensor to accurately detect the dew point temperature for precise control of cooling load adjustment.

Method used

The dehumidifier is configured with a two-stage heat exchanger system, where the second heat exchanger unit is positioned to introduce primary-side air from above and discharge secondary-side air below, incorporating a gas-liquid separation channel and a temperature sensor placed in an upper portion of the channel to detect the dew point temperature accurately, protected by a water- and oil-repellent surface treatment and a protective member.

Benefits of technology

This configuration allows for stable and precise detection of the dew point temperature, enabling effective control of the cooling load and preventing temperature fluctuations, ensuring efficient dehumidification even under varying operational conditions.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide a compressed air dehumidification device in which heat exchanger parts are provided in two stages inside a humidification device housing and a temperature sensor that can sense a dew point temperature is arranged at an appropriate position.SOLUTION: A compressed air dehumidification device, in which a second heat exchanger part 40 is provided to introduce primary-side compressed air 11 from an upper side and discharge secondary-side compressed air 22 to a lower side, comprises: a secondary-side communication path 55 through which the secondary-side compressed air 22 is flowed from the second heat exchanger part 40 to a first heat exchanger part 30; a gas / liquid separation passage part 45 which is a space below the second heat exchanger part 40, formed to be able to drip drain liquid 70 generated by dew condensation and retain the liquid at a lower part and to make the secondary-side compressed air 22 flow through the secondary-side communication path 55; a drain discharge port 71 provided at a lower end part; and a temperature sensor 60 in which a sensing part 61 that senses a temperature is arranged at an upper site where the drain water 70 is not retained in the space of the gas / liquid separation passage 45.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressed air dehumidifier in which a heat exchanger is provided in two stages, a first heat exchanger unit and a second heat exchanger unit, inside a dehumidifier housing so as to dehumidify primary-side compressed air introduced from a compressed air device by heat exchange and discharge the dehumidified secondary-side compressed air to pneumatic equipment, the first heat exchanger unit is provided by arranging a pre-cooling flow path for the primary-side compressed air and a reheating flow path for the secondary-side compressed air so as to pre-cool the primary-side compressed air and reheat the secondary-side compressed air so as to intersect, and the second heat exchanger unit is provided to cool the compressed air pre-cooled in the first heat exchanger unit with a cooling medium, thereby causing condensation and dehumidifying the air. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional compressed air dehumidifier equipped with a temperature sensor has been proposed by the present applicant. The dehumidifier has a refrigeration cycle formed by circulating a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, an evaporator, and an accumulator, and the evaporator is installed inside a cooling tank that forms the compressed air flow path, thereby cooling the air flowing inside the tank to a temperature below the dew point to dehumidify it. In this compressed air dehumidifier, the high-pressure refrigerant piping and the low-pressure refrigerant piping are connected via a normally closed electromagnetic on-off valve, and a sensor is provided to detect the compressed air load via the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator outlet and / or the air temperature at the cooling tank outlet and start / stop the compressor, and a timer is provided to open the electromagnetic valve for a predetermined period of time when the compressor is started (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Furthermore, the present applicant has proposed a compressed air dehumidifier equipped with a conventional temperature sensor, which comprises a dehumidifier main body having an inlet for introducing compressed air, a cooling section that cools the introduced compressed air and condenses the water content in the compressed air to dehumidify the compressed air, and an outlet port for discharging the dehumidified compressed air, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator arranged in the cooling section of the dehumidifier main body, and a cooling circuit having a refrigerant circulation pipe that circulates refrigerant through the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator in that order, in which a temperature sensor is attached to the refrigerant circulation pipe on the refrigerant outlet side of the evaporator, at a location that comes into contact with the compressed air after passing through the evaporator (see Patent Document 2).

[0004] Furthermore, the present applicant has proposed a conventional vertically-mounted compressed air dehumidifier in which a heat exchanger is provided in two stages, a first heat exchanger section and a second heat exchanger section, the two heat exchanger sections being arranged side by side vertically and built into an outer-wall cylindrical body, the first small chamber being located below the two heat exchanger sections and into which the air outlet of the second heat exchanger section and the inlet of the reheating flow path are opened, the first small chamber having a drain section at its lower end, a second small chamber being located above the two heat exchanger sections and for retaining compressed air just before it is discharged, an extended air vent section extending downward so that the air outlet of the second heat exchanger section is located below the inlet of the reheating flow path, and a demister disposed at the lower end of the extended air vent section and through which compressed air passes (see Patent Document 3).

[0005] The present applicant has also proposed a drain discharge circuit device that is part of a drain discharge device connected to the drain discharge port of a compressed air dehumidifier, and that includes a drain discharge flow path that communicates with a drain outlet (drain discharge port) provided at the bottom of the drain receiving tank and guides drain liquid downward for discharge, a drain discharge on-off valve that opens and closes the drain discharge flow path, and a pressurized gas vent pipe that communicates between the gas space portion of the drain receiving tank and the pressurized gas reservoir portion of the drain discharge flow path and has one end opening in the gas space portion and the other end opening in the pressurized gas reservoir portion so as to vent the pressurized gas in the pressurized gas reservoir portion, and that is connected to a drain tank that is partway up the drain discharge flow path to the drain discharge on-off valve and serves as a section that expands the flow path so that drain liquid can be stored closer to the drain discharge on-off valve than the other end opening of the pressurized gas vent pipe line (see Patent Document 4). This drain discharge circuit device is connected to a drain treatment machine that includes, for example, a gas-liquid separation tank and an adsorption treatment tank (oil-water separator). In this drain treatment machine, drain liquid (drain water) generated in, for example, a compressed air dehumidifier and pumped together with compressed air is introduced as water to be treated via the drain discharge circuit device, and the oil contained in the water to be treated is adsorbed in the oil-water separator for purification.

[0006] Furthermore, as an example of a conventional plate-type heat exchanger, the present applicant has proposed a plate-type heat exchanger in which a plurality of plates including a hydrogen gas plate having a groove forming region in which hydrogen gas passage grooves are formed and a brine plate having a groove forming region in which brine passage grooves are formed are stacked and the joining surfaces of the plates are joined together, and the hydrogen gas passing through the hydrogen gas passage grooves can be cooled by heat exchange with the brine passing through the brine passage grooves, and the plate has N1=2 regions that are provided separately and independently so that the hydrogen gas passing through the passage grooves in each region can be cooled without mixing, and an insulation forming region is provided between adjacent regions in which slits are formed to insulate the hydrogen gas passing through the passage grooves in one region from the hydrogen gas passing through the passage grooves in the other region (see Patent Document 5). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 58-14931 A (claims, Figure 2) [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-052610 A (Page 1) [Patent Document 3] JP 2017-127801 A (Page 1) [Patent Document 4] JP 2019-55347 A (Page 1) [Patent Document 5] JP 2020-12584 A (Page 1) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The problem to be solved in relation to compressed air dehumidifiers is that in devices in which a heat exchanger section is provided in two stages inside the dehumidifier housing and compressed air is cooled with a cooling medium to cause condensation and dehumidify, there has been no proposal made regarding a more appropriate arrangement of a temperature sensor that can detect (monitor) the dew point temperature so that the cooling load by the cooling medium can be appropriately adjusted and controlled.

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a compressed air dehumidifier in which a heat exchanger section is arranged in two stages inside the dehumidifier housing and a temperature sensor that can detect the dew point temperature is arranged in an appropriate position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. According to one aspect of the compressed air dehumidifier of the present invention, a heat exchanger is provided in two stages, a first heat exchanger unit and a second heat exchanger unit, inside a dehumidifier housing so as to dehumidify primary-side compressed air introduced from a compressed air device by heat exchange and discharge the dehumidified secondary-side compressed air to pneumatic equipment, the first heat exchanger unit is provided by arranging a pre-cooling flow path for the primary-side compressed air and a reheating flow path for the secondary-side compressed air so as to pre-cool the primary-side compressed air and reheat the secondary-side compressed air so as to intersect, and the second heat exchanger unit is provided so as to cool the compressed air pre-cooled in the first heat exchanger unit with a cooling medium to cause condensation and dehumidify the compressed air. the second heat exchanger unit is arranged to introduce primary-side compressed air from above and discharge secondary-side compressed air to below, and is equipped with a secondary-side communication passage that communicates the secondary-side compressed air from the second heat exchanger unit to the first heat exchanger unit, a gas-liquid separation channel unit in a space below the second heat exchanger unit that can cause drain water generated by condensation to drip and accumulate in the lower part and that is formed to communicate the secondary-side compressed air to the secondary-side communication passage, a drain discharge port that is provided to discharge the drain water to the gas-liquid separation channel unit or the lower end of the secondary-side communication passage, and a temperature sensor with a sensing unit that detects temperature that is arranged in an upper part of the space of the gas-liquid separation channel unit where the drain water does not accumulate.

[0011] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the compressed air dehumidifier of the present invention, the first heat exchanger unit and the second heat exchanger unit are arranged at one and the other horizontal ends of the dehumidifier housing, the first heat exchanger unit is arranged to communicate the primary-side compressed air from the bottom to the top and the secondary-side compressed air from the top to the bottom, and the secondary-side communication passage is arranged in the horizontal middle of the dehumidifier housing between the first heat exchanger unit and the second heat exchanger unit and is arranged to communicate the secondary-side compressed air from the bottom to the top.

[0012] Furthermore, one aspect of the compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention can be characterized in that the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are plate-type heat exchangers.

[0013] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the compressed air dehumidifier of the present invention, the sensing unit is subjected to a water-repellent and oil-repellent surface treatment to prevent dripping drain water from adhering to the sensing unit.

[0014] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the compressed air dehumidifier of the present invention, the sensing unit can be protected by a protective member so that the dripping drain water does not directly hit the sensing unit.

[0015] Furthermore, one aspect of the compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention can be characterized by including a control device that controls operation based on detection information from the temperature sensor.

[0016] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the compressed air dehumidifier unit of the present invention, the temperature sensor can be attached by fixing the base of the temperature sensor to a portion of the dehumidifier housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The compressed air dehumidifier of the present invention has a configuration in which the heat exchanger section is arranged in two stages inside the dehumidifier housing, and has the particularly advantageous effect of being able to arrange a temperature sensor that can detect the dew point temperature in an appropriate position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic front view showing an example of a compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 as viewed from one side. [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 as seen from the other side. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing another embodiment of a compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention, including a part of the internal structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Next, an embodiment of a compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings (FIGS. 1 to 5).

[0020] The compressed air dehumidifier of the present invention dehumidifies primary-side compressed air 11 (see the black arrow in FIG. 1 ) introduced from a compressed air device (compressed air source) 10 such as an air compressor by heat exchange, and discharges (supplies) the dehumidified secondary-side compressed air 22 (see the white arrow in FIG. 1 ) to pneumatic equipment 20. Heat exchangers are provided in two stages, a first heat exchanger unit 30 and a second heat exchanger unit 40, inside a dehumidifier housing 50. The first heat exchanger unit 30 pre-cools the primary-side compressed air 11 and reheats the secondary-side compressed air 22. A pre-cooling flow path 31 for the primary-side compressed air 11 and a reheating flow path 32 for the secondary-side compressed air 22 are arranged so as to intersect. The second heat exchanger unit 40 cools the compressed air pre-cooled in the first heat exchanger unit 30 with a cooling medium, causing condensation and dehumidifying the air.

[0021] In the compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention, the second heat exchanger section 40 is arranged to introduce primary-side compressed air 11 from above and discharge secondary-side compressed air 22 to the below, and is equipped with a secondary-side communication passage 55 that communicates the secondary-side compressed air 22 from the second heat exchanger section 40 to the first heat exchanger section 30, a gas-liquid separation flow passage section 45 in the space below the second heat exchanger section 40, which allows drain water 70 generated by condensation to drip and accumulate at the bottom, and which is formed to communicate the secondary-side compressed air 22 to the secondary-side communication passage 55, a drain discharge port 71 provided to discharge drain water to the lower end of the gas-liquid separation flow passage section 45 or the secondary-side communication passage 55, and a temperature sensor 60 in which a sensing section 61 that detects temperature is arranged in an upper portion of the space of the gas-liquid separation flow passage section 45 where the drain water 70 does not accumulate.

[0022] That is, the temperature sensor 60 of this embodiment is configured so that the sensing unit 61 is disposed in a lower portion (bottom) inside the dehumidifier housing 50, in a space (flow path space) where the compressed air is cooled by the cooling medium in the second heat exchanger unit 40 and is in the lowest temperature state. Note that the drain discharge port 71 is connected to, for example, a drain discharge circuit device (see Patent Document 4), which is a component of the drain discharge device 75. The drain discharge circuit device is connected to, for example, a drain treatment machine including a gas-liquid separation tank and an adsorption treatment tank (oil-water separator).

[0023] In the compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention, the temperature sensor 60 directly measures the temperature (dew point temperature) of the compressed air at its lowest point, resulting in dehumidification by condensing the moisture in the compressed air. This allows for the most accurate detection of the dew point temperature. For example, when the operating status of a system including the compressed air dehumidifier of this embodiment drops to a low level or stops (low load or no load), the lowest-temperature compressed air, which has reached its lowest temperature, remains at the bottom due to its high density and weight. Therefore, the low-temperature compressed air stably remains in the gas-liquid separation channel 45 below the second heat exchanger 40, where the sensing unit 61 of the temperature sensor 60 is located, and is therefore less susceptible to external disturbances and less likely to increase in temperature. Therefore, the temperature sensor 60 arranged as in this embodiment allows for accurate and stable monitoring of the dew point temperature, enabling stable control of the system operation.

[0024] That is, the compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention has a configuration in which heat exchangers are provided in two stages (first heat exchanger 30 and second heat exchanger 40) inside the dehumidifier housing 50, and has the particularly advantageous effect of being able to dispose the temperature sensor 60 capable of detecting the dew point temperature in an appropriate position. More specifically, the sensing unit 61 of the temperature sensor 60 is disposed in an upper portion of the space in the gas-liquid separation channel 45 where drain water 70 does not accumulate. This portion is the lowest (bottom) portion of the dehumidifier housing 50 where the most cooled secondary-side compressed air flows during operation and where the most cooled secondary-side compressed air can stably accumulate in a settled state when operation is stopped (no load), and the sensing unit 61 can accurately and stably detect the temperature (dew point temperature) of the most cooled secondary-side compressed air. For example, even under no load conditions, if the temperature of stagnant compressed air rises, an equipment system (e.g., a compressor in a refrigeration cycle equipment) that includes a compressed air dehumidifier as a component may start operating, causing the system to repeatedly start and stop, but this phenomenon can be prevented by the present invention.

[0025] In addition, in this embodiment, the first heat exchanger section 30 and the second heat exchanger section 40 are arranged at one end side 51 and the other end side 52 in the horizontal direction of the dehumidifier housing 50, and the first heat exchanger section 30 is arranged to communicate the primary side compressed air 11 from the bottom side to the top side and to communicate the secondary side compressed air 22 from the top side to the bottom side, and the secondary side communication passage 55 is arranged in the horizontal middle part of the dehumidifier housing 50 between the first heat exchanger section 30 and the second heat exchanger section 40 and is arranged to communicate the secondary side compressed air 22 from the bottom side to the top side.

[0026] According to this, the secondary-side communication passage 55 is suitably arranged as an intermediate space (separator section) separating the first heat exchanger section 30 and the second heat exchanger section 40. Therefore, the secondary-side communication passage 55 serves as a buffer section, and the space of the gas-liquid separation channel section 45 (the section where the sensing section 61 is arranged) is less susceptible to thermal influence from the first heat exchanger section 30. For example, even if the operation of an apparatus system including the compressed air dehumidifier of this embodiment is stopped, the space of the gas-liquid separation channel section 45 is less susceptible to convection caused by the influence of the first heat exchanger section 30, and the low-temperature compressed air is more likely to remain in a settled state. This has the advantage of allowing accurate detection of the temperature (dew point temperature) of the secondary-side compressed air 22. Furthermore, since the secondary side communicating passage 55 is provided, the flow of compressed air is a downward flow in the cooled flow path 42 of the second heat exchanger section 40 and an upward flow in the secondary side communicating passage 55, and therefore the flow of the compressed air is reversed, which has the effect of effectively separating the secondary side compressed air 22 and the drain water 70.

[0027] 1 to 5, the first heat exchanger unit 30 and the second heat exchanger unit 40 are provided as plate-type heat exchangers. This allows the compressed air dehumidifier to be configured in a compact and simple form. Furthermore, this plate-type heat exchanger has a box-like shape, which allows for efficient use of the installation space.

[0028] Next, the flow of compressed air in the compressed air dehumidifier of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 will be described. A compressed air inlet 13 and a compressed air outlet 23 are provided at the bottom of one end wall 51a forming the end face of one end 51 of the dehumidifier housing 50, which is the side where the first heat exchanger unit 30 is arranged. A second heat exchanger unit inlet 40a is provided at the top of the secondary-side communication passage 55, communicating the primary-side compressed air 11 from the pre-cooling flow path 31 of the first heat exchanger unit 30 to the second heat exchanger unit 40. The gas-liquid separation flow path 45 and the secondary-side communication passage 55 are connected by a secondary-side communication passage inlet 55a. A secondary-side communication passage outlet 55b is provided at the top of the secondary-side communication passage 55, communicating the secondary-side compressed air 22 from the secondary-side communication passage 55 to the reheating flow path 32 of the first heat exchanger unit 30.

[0029] According to this configuration, primary-side compressed air 11 is introduced from the compressed air device 10 into the first heat exchanger section 30 via the compressed air inlet 13, and then from the first heat exchanger section 30 into the second heat exchanger section 40 via the second heat exchanger section inlet 40a. Secondary-side compressed air 22 generated after passing through the second heat exchanger section 40 is communicated with the secondary-side communicating passage 55 via the secondary-side communicating passage inlet 55a and communicated with the first heat exchanger section 30 via the secondary-side communicating passage outlet 55b. As shown by the two-dot chain arrows in FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, the compressed air flows from bottom to top in the pre-cooling flow passage 31 of the first heat exchanger section 30, from top to bottom in the cooled flow passage 42 of the second heat exchanger section 40, from bottom to top in the secondary-side communicating passage 55, and from top to bottom in the reheating flow passage 32 of the first heat exchanger section 30.

[0030] The other end wall portion 52a forms the end face of the other end side 52 of the dehumidifier housing 50, on which the second heat exchanger portion 40 is disposed. An inlet 81 for the cooling medium (refrigerant) for the second heat exchanger portion 40 is provided at its lower portion, and an outlet 82 for the cooling medium (refrigerant) for the second heat exchanger portion 40 is provided at its upper portion. A refrigerant is supplied to the cooling medium inlet 81 from a refrigerant supply source 80 (see FIG. 1). In the second heat exchanger portion 40, the refrigerant flow path 41 (see the dashed-dotted arrow in the second heat exchanger portion 40 in FIG. 2) and the cooled flow path 42 (see the dashed-two-dot line in the second heat exchanger portion 40 in FIG. 2) are arranged to intersect with each other, thereby cooling the compressed air that has flowed into the cooled flow path 42 of the second heat exchanger portion 40 and condensing the moisture in the compressed air. The compressed air flowing through the cooled flow path 42 becomes a downward flow, which is the same direction as gravity. Therefore, the drain water 70 generated by condensation can be smoothly swept away and discharged / drifted in the direction of the gas-liquid separation channel portion 45 .

[0031] Furthermore, the temperature sensor 60 functioning as a dew point sensor for a compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention may be configured such that the sensing unit 61 is subjected to a water- and oil-repellent surface treatment to prevent dripping drain water 70 from adhering to it. Examples of surface treatments that can be applied to the sensor body including the sensing unit 61 include silicone resin or fluorine resin (water- and oil-repellent materials), and glass coating (water- and oil-repellent materials).

[0032] This surface treatment on the sensor body allows the drain water 70 to flow away smoothly from the sensing part 61, and prevents oil and other substances contained in the drain water 70 from solidifying and adhering to the surface of the sensing part 61 to form a kind of insulating layer, thereby minimizing any impairment of the accuracy of temperature detection. Furthermore, the surface treatment on the sensor body serves as a waterproof and oil-proofing measure for the temperature sensor 60, preventing the occurrence of rust and reducing oil stains, and thereby adequately protecting the temperature sensor 60.

[0033] Furthermore, in the temperature sensor 60 functioning as a dew point sensor for a compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention, the sensing unit 61 can be protected by a protective member to prevent dripping drain water 70 from directly contacting the sensing unit 61. This protective member can be a welded protective tube (socket 65) long enough to cover the sensor body including the sensing unit 61, as shown in FIG. 2, or an additional umbrella-shaped drain water guard 66, as shown in FIG. 5. The socket 65 shown in FIG. 2 has a drain hole 65a on its underside to prevent water from accumulating within the socket 65. The temperature sensor 60 may also be mounted at an angle, which further reduces the likelihood of drain water 70, oil, and the like adhering to the sensor.

[0034] In this way, by protecting the sensor body with a protective member, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the occurrence of oil and the like contained in the drain water 70 solidifying and adhering to the surface of the sensing part 61, creating a kind of insulating layer that would impair the accuracy of temperature detection. In addition, the protective member for the sensor body serves as a waterproof and oil-proofing measure for the temperature sensor 60, preventing the occurrence of rust and reducing oil stains, and thereby providing appropriate protection for the temperature sensor 60.

[0035] The compressed air dehumidifier according to the present invention may also include a control device (not shown) that controls operation related to the cooling load generated by the cooling medium based on detection information from the temperature sensor 60. An example of operation related to the cooling load generated by the cooling medium is operation related to a refrigeration cycle device (not shown). For example, a control device may be provided that, based on detection information from the temperature sensor 60, reduces the rotation speed of the electric motor that drives the compressor by inverter control when the detected temperature (compressed air temperature) drops below a required temperature during operation of the compressor of the refrigeration cycle device, and increases the rotation speed of the electric motor that drives the compressor by inverter control when the compressed air temperature exceeds the required temperature. In other words, the cooling load generated by the refrigeration cycle device can be more precisely controlled based on precise monitoring information from the temperature sensor 60 according to the present invention.

[0036] Furthermore, for example, the control device may be configured to stop operation of the compressor when the detected temperature (compressed air temperature) drops below a predetermined temperature based on detection information from the temperature sensor 60 during operation of the compressor of the refrigeration cycle device, and to restart operation of the compressor when the compressed air temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature while the compressor is stopped. Note that, since energy loss is likely to occur when restarting the refrigeration cycle device once the operation of the refrigeration cycle device is stopped, it is preferable to control the rotation speed of the electric motor by inverter control. Furthermore, control of the operation of the refrigeration cycle device is not limited to control of the compressor, but also includes control of other components, such as control of the cooling fan of the condenser.

[0037] That is, the cooling medium according to this embodiment is, for example, a refrigerant for a refrigeration cycle device, and an evaporator is provided as a component of the second heat exchanger section 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even when cooling water supplied from a cold water source is used as the cooling medium, the operation (cooling load) of the compressed air dehumidifier can be appropriately controlled by appropriately controlling the amount of cooling water supplied to the second heat exchanger section 40 via a flow control valve or the like based on detection information from the temperature sensor 60.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the temperature sensor 60 is attached by fixing a base portion 62 of the temperature sensor 60 to a portion of the dehumidifier housing 50. In the temperature sensor 60 of this embodiment, the sensing portion 61 is inserted from the outside of the dehumidifier housing 50, and the base portion 62 is screwed into a female screw portion provided on the lower side of the wall portion of the other end side 52 of the dehumidifier housing 50 (the lower portion of the wall member forming the end face on the side of the second heat exchanger portion 40), thereby enabling the temperature sensor 60 to be attached and detached to a member constituting the dehumidifier housing 50. This allows the temperature sensor 60 to be easily attached and detached, facilitating maintenance and management.

[0039] The present invention has been described above in various ways using preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications can be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 10 Compressed air equipment 11 Primary compressed air 13 Compressed air inlet 20 Pneumatic equipment 22 Secondary compressed air 23 Compressed air outlet 30 First heat exchanger section 31 Pre-cooling channel 32 Reheat channel 40 Second heat exchanger section 40a Second heat exchanger section inlet 41 refrigerant flow path 42 Cooled channel 45 Gas-liquid separation channel section 50 Dehumidifier housing 51 One end 51a One end wall 52 Other end side 52a Other end wall 55 Secondary side communication path 55a Secondary communication passage inlet 55b Secondary side communication passage outlet 60 Temperature Sensor 61 Sensing unit 62 Root 65 sockets 65a Drain hole 66 Umbrella-shaped drain cover 70 Drain water 71 Drain outlet 75 Drain discharge device 80 Refrigerant supply source (refrigeration cycle) 81 Cooling medium inlet 82 Cooling medium outlet

Claims

1. A compressed air dehumidifier in which a heat exchanger is provided in two stages, a first heat exchanger unit and a second heat exchanger unit, inside a dehumidifier housing so as to dehumidify primary-side compressed air introduced from a compressed air device by heat exchange and discharge the dehumidified secondary-side compressed air to pneumatic equipment, the first heat exchanger unit is provided by arranging a pre-cooling flow path for the primary-side compressed air and a reheating flow path for the secondary-side compressed air so as to pre-cool the primary-side compressed air and reheat the secondary-side compressed air so as to intersect, and the second heat exchanger unit is provided to cool the compressed air pre-cooled in the first heat exchanger unit with a cooling medium to cause condensation and dehumidify the compressed air, the second heat exchanger unit is provided so as to introduce primary-side compressed air from an upper side and discharge secondary-side compressed air to a lower side, a secondary-side communication passage that communicates secondary-side compressed air from the second heat exchanger portion to the first heat exchanger portion; a gas-liquid separation channel portion formed in a space below the second heat exchanger portion, the gas-liquid separation channel portion being capable of causing drain water generated by condensation to drip and accumulate in a lower portion thereof, and also configured to communicate secondary-side compressed air with the secondary-side communication channel; a drain outlet provided at a lower end of the gas-liquid separation channel portion or the secondary-side communication channel so as to discharge the drain water; a temperature sensor having a sensing unit that detects temperature, disposed in an upper portion of the space of the gas-liquid separation channel portion where the drain water does not accumulate; the first heat exchanger unit and the second heat exchanger unit are disposed at one end side and the other end side in a horizontal direction of the dehumidification device housing, the first heat exchanger unit is provided to allow primary-side compressed air to communicate from a lower side to an upper side and secondary-side compressed air to communicate from an upper side to a lower side, A compressed air dehumidifier characterized in that the secondary side communication passage is provided in the horizontal middle part of the dehumidifier housing between the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section, and is configured to communicate the secondary side compressed air from the lower side to the upper side.

2. A compressed air dehumidifier in which a heat exchanger is provided in two stages, a first heat exchanger unit and a second heat exchanger unit, inside a dehumidifier housing so as to dehumidify primary-side compressed air introduced from a compressed air device by heat exchange and discharge the dehumidified secondary-side compressed air to pneumatic equipment, the first heat exchanger unit is provided by arranging a pre-cooling flow path for the primary-side compressed air and a reheating flow path for the secondary-side compressed air so as to pre-cool the primary-side compressed air and reheat the secondary-side compressed air so as to intersect, and the second heat exchanger unit is provided to cool the compressed air pre-cooled in the first heat exchanger unit with a cooling medium to cause condensation and dehumidify the compressed air, the second heat exchanger unit is provided so as to introduce primary-side compressed air from an upper side and discharge secondary-side compressed air to a lower side, a secondary-side communication passage that communicates secondary-side compressed air from the second heat exchanger portion to the first heat exchanger portion; a gas-liquid separation channel portion formed in a space below the second heat exchanger portion, the gas-liquid separation channel portion being capable of causing drain water generated by condensation to drip and accumulate in a lower portion thereof, and also configured to communicate secondary-side compressed air with the secondary-side communication channel; a drain outlet provided at a lower end of the gas-liquid separation channel portion or the secondary-side communication channel so as to discharge the drain water; a temperature sensor having a sensing unit that detects temperature, disposed in an upper portion of the space of the gas-liquid separation channel portion where the drain water does not accumulate; A compressed air dehumidifier, wherein the temperature sensor is attached by fixing a base portion of the temperature sensor to a portion of the dehumidifier housing.

3. 3. The compressed air dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are plate-type heat exchangers.

4. 4. The compressed air dehumidifier according to claim 3, wherein the sensing portion is subjected to a water-repellent and oil-repellent surface treatment so that the dripped drain water does not adhere to the sensing portion.

5. 4. The compressed air dehumidifier according to claim 3, wherein the sensing unit is protected by a protective member so that the dripping drain water does not directly hit the sensing unit.

6. 3. The compressed air dehumidifier according to claim 1, further comprising a control device that controls operation based on information detected by the temperature sensor.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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