The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 08, 1997
George R Grgich, Raleigh, NC (US);
Michael S Cranford, Wake Forest, NC (US);
John C Patton, Charlotte, NC (US);
Other;
Abstract
A pre-compression dehydration system optimizes the gas flow parameters which are essential to the performance of a radial or spherical desiccant dryer. When used in conjunction with a low pressure dryer, the system protects the desiccant bed from channeling, which can cause the gas to flow unevenly through the desiccant bed and fail to make effective contact with the desiccant. The system provides a multiple zone, or divided, desiccant bed adsorption unit to maintain a proper flow distribution as required by the demand of the air compressor and to eliminate the potential for channeling. The system may also include a controller for automatically opening and closing the port access doors of the adsorption unit to control the amount of desiccant utilized to dry the air. A thermostatically controlled precooler may be provided for cooling the ambient air prior to adsorption to insure that the temperature of the effluent air will not exceed 100.degree. F. (37.8.degree. C.) as a result of the heat energy produced during the adsorption process. A heater may be provided within the desiccant bed to improve the rate of heat transfer to the desiccant media during the regeneration phase.