Adsorption Dryer Cooling Zone Moisture Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In adsorption dryers, the cooling of the adsorption rotor with undried compressed air leads to deteriorated drying performance, as the dryness of the rotor is compromised, affecting the drying capacity in the treatment zone.
Innovation Solution
The adsorption dryer design includes a cylindrical casing with axial partitioning into treatment, regeneration, and cooling zones, where compressed air adsorbed with moisture in the treatment zone is used as the cooling gas in the cooling zone, reducing moisture adhesion to the rotor and enhancing drying performance. Additionally, scavenging valves and an atmosphere release path are used to manage air flow and pressure during load and no-load operations, minimizing dew point deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If undried compressed air is supplied to the cooling zone as cooling gas, then the cooling function is achieved, but the dryness of the adsorption rotor is deteriorated and drying performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of the cooling gas from undried compressed air to dried compressed air that has passed through the treatment zone. This parameter change ensures that the cooling gas has lower moisture content, preventing deterioration of the adsorption rotor's dryness while maintaining the cooling effect. The dried compressed air is introduced into the cooling zone through a dedicated inlet flow path after being dehumidified in the treatment zone.
2Device complexity
If compressed air is supplied to the cooling zone before moisture adsorption, then the cooling process is simplified, but moisture adhesion to the rotor occurs and drying capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first passing the compressed air through the treatment zone to remove moisture before supplying it to the cooling zone. This preliminary dehumidification action prevents moisture adhesion to the adsorption rotor during the cooling process, maintaining drying capacity. The sequence of operations is arranged so that moisture removal precedes cooling, ensuring the adsorption rotor remains dry throughout the cycle.
3Temperature
If the adsorption rotor is cooled with moist compressed air, then cooling is achieved, but the drying performance in the treatment zone is easily deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dried compressed air as an intermediary medium to perform the cooling function. Instead of using moist compressed air that would directly contact and moisten the adsorption rotor, the system uses dried compressed air that has already had its moisture removed in the treatment zone. This intermediary dried air acts as a protective cooling medium that reduces rotor temperature without compromising the dryness or drying performance of the rotor.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration stabilizes the drying performance of the adsorption rotor by reducing moisture adhesion and leakage, ensuring continuous supply of dry compressed air to the consumer side, even during transitions between load and no-load operations.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorption rotor that is formed in a columnar shape, has a plurality of rotor flow paths penetrating in an axial direction, and includes an adsorption medium on a wall surface constituting each of the plurality of rotor flow paths
Implementation Method 2
a cooling zone inlet flow path for supplying to the cooling zone a cooling gas for cooling the adsorption rotor
Implementation Method 3
a regeneration zone inlet flow path for supplying regeneration gas for regenerating the adsorption rotor to the regeneration zone
Data Source
AI summary
A dryer includes a rotary adsorption rotor, a casing that rotatably supports the adsorption rotor and is petitioned into a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone, a first zone inlet flow path that supplies compressed air to the first zone, a first zone outlet flow path that supplies dry compressed air from the first zone to the consumer facility side, a third zone inlet flow path that supplies cooling gas to the third zone, a third zone outlet flow path that discharges cooling gas from the third zone, a second zone inlet flow path that supplies regeneration gas to the second zone, and a second zone outlet flow path that discharges regeneration gas from the second zone. The third zone inlet flow path supplies a part of the compressed air having flowed through the first zone as a cooling gas.