Compressed Gas Conditioning Plant Liquid Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compressed gas lines are susceptible to ambient temperature and pressure fluctuations, leading to condensation and drop formation, which is problematic in explosion-protected areas and affects the quality of the gas for applications like spraying.

Innovation Solution

A compressed gas processing system with a heating device that uses a liquid-based hose heater, where a fluid line is integrated within the compressed gas line to control temperature, reducing condensation risks and ensuring consistent gas quality for improved spraying results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If compressed gas is humidified in the compressed gas line, then spraying quality is improved, but condensation and drop formation occur due to temperature fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespraying qualityVSAvoidcondensation and drop formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by heating the compressed gas line before humidification occurs. The heating device pre-warms the line to a temperature above the dew point, ensuring that when humidified gas is introduced, condensation does not form. This preventive heating before the harmful effect can occur resolves the contradiction between achieving high spraying quality through humidification and avoiding condensation issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Temperature

If electrical heating spirals are used to prevent condensation, then temperature control is improved, but explosion protection is compromised in Ex-protection areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidexplosion protection
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical heating system with a hydraulic heating system. Instead of using electrical heating spirals that pose explosion risks in Ex-protection areas, the invention uses a heating device that circulates heated liquid through the compressed gas line. This mechanical/hydraulic substitution maintains effective temperature control while eliminating the explosion hazard associated with electrical components in hazardous atmospheres.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a liquid-based hose heater is implemented, then condensation risk is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondensation riskVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the heating function with the existing compressed gas delivery system by integrating the heating device and fluid line into the same infrastructure. The heating device connects to the compressed gas line through integrated connection elements, allowing the heating system to be implemented without requiring completely separate, complex infrastructure. This merging approach reduces overall system complexity while still providing effective condensation prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The system effectively prevents condensation and droplet formation, maintaining high gas quality and ensuring adequate explosion protection, leading to better spraying outcomes such as improved coating or painting results.

Implementation Method 1

the compressed gas treatment system has a heating device for heating a liquid (heat carrier)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

A liquid-based hose heater is thus created. The risk of condensation and the formation of drops in the compressed gas line is thus significantly reduced.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

it is desirable that condensation and the formation of drops from humidified compressed gas can be avoided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation prevention through heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3812048B1Pressurised gas preparation system
Publication Date: 2022.07.27 COPPS GMBH
  • EP3812048B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3812048B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A compressed gas conditioning plant (100) for conditioning compressed gas, with an inlet (102) for connecting a compressed gas source (106) and an outlet (52) for providing conditioned compressed gas, wherein the inlet (102) and the outlet (52) are flow-connected and a humidification device (116) for humidifying the compressed gas is arranged in the flow connection (108), is designed and further developed in such a way as to enable the provision of compressed gas with high and consistent quality using simple design means, such that the compressed gas conditioning plant (100) has a heating device (50) for heating a liquid, wherein the heating device (50) has a supply connection (58) for supplying heated liquid and a return connection (60) for feeding in recycled liquid.