Patent ID: 6128825
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A combination gas drying and reservoir apparatus for a compressed gas system, said apparatus comprising:(a) a reservoir for storing dried compressed gas for use by said compressed gas system, said reservoir having an inlet flange for receiving moisture laden gas ultimately from a compressor, an outlet flange for delivering said dried gas to said compressed gas system and a purge flange; and(b) a membrane gas dryer, disposed inside of said reservoir, for drying said moisture laden gas, said dryer including a vessel encasing a membrane unit disposed between an inlet end and an outlet end of said vessel such that (i) said moisture laden gas flows from said inlet flange through said inlet end into said membrane unit, (ii) sweep gas that has permeated through membranes of said membrane unit flows from a sweep space defined between said vessel and said membrane unit through a purge port of said vessel and through said purge flange of said reservoir with which said purge port communicates so that said permeate sweep gas expels from said apparatus into the atmosphere and (iii) said dried gas flows out of said membrane unit through said outlet end of said vessel into said reservoir.