Single-Header Glycol Distribution for Consistent Dryer Dew Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compressed air systems with multiple heat exchangers face inefficiencies due to variable dew points and inconsistent drying when one or more modules are inactive or de-energized, leading to performance issues and temperature inconsistencies in cooling medium distribution.
Innovation Solution
A system with a single cooling medium header and multiple circulation pumps distributes cooling medium to dryer modules, ensuring uniform temperature through a common storage tank and header, maintaining consistent dew points and continuous operation even when modules are inactive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple heat exchangers are used in compressed air systems, then drying capacity is improved, but temperature inconsistencies and variable dew points occur when modules are inactive
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cooling medium distribution into separate zones: a common storage tank and a distribution header system with individual circuit connections to each heat exchanger module. This segmentation allows independent temperature control and circulation for each module while maintaining a unified cooling medium source, resolving the temperature inconsistency issue when modules are inactive.
2Productivity
If multiple heat exchangers operate in parallel, then moisture removal efficiency is improved, but inconsistent dew points occur when modules are de-energized
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools the cooling medium in a common storage tank before distribution to multiple heat exchanger modules. By establishing a uniformly cold baseline temperature in the storage tank before the cooling medium reaches individual modules, the system ensures that even when some modules are inactive, the cooling medium maintains consistent temperature and produces uniform dew points across all active modules.
3Device complexity
If a single header distributes cooling medium to multiple pumps, then system complexity is reduced, but temperature uniformity becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The common storage tank acts as an equipotential reservoir, ensuring that the cooling medium is at a uniform temperature and pressure before being distributed to multiple circulation pumps. This equipotential condition at the source compensates for the simplified single-header distribution system, maintaining temperature uniformity across all heat exchanger modules despite the reduced system complexity.
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
Ensures consistent dew points and continuous operation across all dryer modules, preventing performance inefficiencies and maintaining uniform drying efficiency regardless of module activity status.
Implementation Method 1
direct a first portion of cooling medium received from the single cooling medium header past a first stream of compressed air to condense at least a portion of moisture held in the first stream of compressed air
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchange systems can use a cooling medium to facilitate heat transfer from the compressed air to the cooling medium
Data Source
AI summary
Cooling medium circulation systems for supplying a cooling medium through a single header to multiplexed heat exchangers are described. In an aspect, a system includes, but is not limited to, a storage tank configured to hold a cooling medium in a fluid state; first and second circulation pumps fluidically coupled to the storage tank; a single cooling medium header fluidically coupled with each of the circulation pumps; a first dryer module configured to direct a first portion of cooling medium from the single cooling medium header past a first stream of compressed air and to direct the first portion of cooling medium back to the storage tank; and a second dryer module fluidically configured to direct a second portion of cooling medium from the single cooling medium header past a second stream of compressed air.