Patent ID: 8268055
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: B01D,F16L

Abstract:
1. A membrane gas dryer comprising an upstream fitting assembly, a downstream fitting assembly, a purge tube, and a sample element, wherein: the upstream fitting assembly comprises an upstream fitting body, an upstream sealing interface, and an upstream barrier sleeve; the upstream fitting body comprises an upstream axial passage that extends along a centerline axis of the upstream fitting body, an upstream counterbore that extends from an end of the upstream axial passage, and an upstream omni-directional channel arranged circumferentially around the upstream fitting body; the upstream barrier sleeve and the upstream omni-directional channel of the upstream fitting body form an upstream purge plenum in fluid communication with the upstream axial passage; the upstream sealing interface maintains a fluid-tight seal between the upstream barrier sleeve and the upstream fitting body as the upstream barrier sleeve rotates about the centerline axis of the upstream fitting body; the downstream fitting assembly comprises a downstream fitting body, a downstream sealing interface, and a downstream barrier sleeve; the downstream fitting body comprises a downstream axial passage that extends along a centerline axis of the downstream fitting body, a downstream counterbore that extends from an end of the downstream axial passage, and a downstream omni-directional channel arranged circumferentially around the downstream fitting body; the downstream barrier sleeve and the downstream omni-directional channel of the downstream fitting body form a downstream purge plenum in fluid communication with the downstream axial passage; the downstream sealing interface maintains a fluid-tight seal between the downstream barrier sleeve and the downstream fitting body as the downstream barrier sleeve rotates about the centerline axis of the downstream fitting body; an upstream portion of the purge tube is secured within the upstream counterbore of the upstream fitting body and a downstream portion of the purge tube is secured within the downstream counterbore of the downstream fitting body such that the purge tube is in fluid communication with the upstream axial passage of the upstream fitting body and the downstream axial passage of the downstream fitting body; and the sample element comprises a water-permeable membrane and passes inside the purge tube such that moisture in a sample gas flowing in a downstream direction through the sample element from the upstream fitting body to the downstream fitting body passes moisture through the water-permeable membrane and into a purge gas flowing in the purge tube in one of an upstream direction or a downstream direction between the upstream purge plenum and the downstream purge plenum.