US3856493A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy recovery system for oil injected screw compressors
Assignee: MARSHALL INDUSTRIES Inc
•
Filing: 1973-05-08
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-05-08
Abstract
Abstract The high heat content of the lubricating and sealing oil discharged from an oil injected screw compressor is transferred after separating the oil from the compressor discharge gas to the gas stream itself downstream of a gas aftercooler, thereby increasing the overall thermal efficiency of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 C Bulkley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:51
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04C; F04C29/00; F04C29/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
In an air compressor system for delivering compressed air at relatively high temperature and moisture free to a load downstream of said compressor, and wherein said air compressor has a working chamber subjected to a lubricating and sealing oil with a large amount of the heat of compression of the air being absorbed by the oil in comparison with that retained by the air and wherein said system includes an oil separator which receives the compressor discharge and separates the oil from the compressed air for recirculation of the oil via nan oil return line to the compressor working chamber, and wherein a first heat exchanger is fluid coupled to the oil sump and receives the oil free compressor discharge air and cools the compressed air to effect condensation and includes a trap for removal of the moisture within the compressor discharge air prior to delivery of the moisture free compressed air to an end use device, the improvement comprising: a second heat exchanger thermally coupling said oil within said return line between said oil separator and the air compressor working chamber to the oil free, moisture free compressed discharge air downstream of the first heat exchanger for returning the heat lost to the compressed discharge air at the first heat exchanger to the moisture free compressed air from the separated oil, thereby increasing the overall thermal efficiency of the system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
In an air compressor system for delivering compressed air at relatively high temperature and moisture free to a load downstream of said compressor, and wherein said air compressor has a working chamber subjected to a lubricating and sealing oil with a large amount of the heat of compression of the air being absorbed by the oil in comparison with that retained by the air and wherein said system includes an oil separator which receives the compressor discharge and separates the oil from the compressed air for recirculation of the oil via nan oil return line to the compressor working chamber, and wherein a first heat exchanger is fluid coupled to the oil sump and receives the oil free compressor discharge air and cools the compressed air to effect condensation and includes a trap for removal of the moisture within the compressor discharge air prior to delivery of the moisture free compressed air to an end use device, the improvement comprising: a second heat exchanger thermally coupling said oil within said return line between said oil separator and the air compressor working chamber to the oil free, moisture free compressed discharge air downstream of the first heat exchanger for returning the heat lost to the compressed discharge air at the first heat exchanger to the moisture free compressed air from the separated oil, thereby increasing the overall thermal efficiency of the system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The gas compressor system as claimed in claim 1, further including: a refrigerated dryer in heat exchange relationship with the compressor dischaRge air downstream of the first heat exchanger and trap and upstream of the second heat exchanger for further reducing the moisture content of the compressed air prior to reheating of the same by said second heat exchanger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
The gas compressor system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: an economizer and wherein said refrigerated dryer comprises a closed loop refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, in that order, and means for circulating a refrigerant therebetween under control of a thermal expansion valve upstream of the evaporator, and said economizer comprises an air to air heat exchanger fluid coupling said compressor discharge air downstream of said first heat exchanger to itself after heat exchange with said evaporator and prior to delivering said compressor discharge to said second heat exchanger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3073513A
Cited
US3759348A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |