US5282726A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compressor supercharger with evaporative cooler
Assignee: Praxair Technology Inc
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Filing: 1991-06-21
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Granted: 1994-02-01
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Expires: 2011-06-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for increasing the capacity of a gas compressor. The apparatus comprises a supercharger for compressing a gas flow and an evaporative cooler for cooling and ducting the supercharged gas flow to the gas compressor. The cooler comprises a section of pipe connecting the supercharger and the compressor. Mounted on the wall of the pipe are nozzles oriented upstream to atomize water into droplets of mean diameter ranging from about 4 to about 12 microns. The pipe is sized to provide a residence time of from about 0.1 to about 0.5 seconds for the droplets in the gas flow.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Warren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:41
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B39/00; F04B39/06; F28; F28C; F28C3/00; F28C3/06; F28C3/08; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/58; F04D29/582; F04D29/5846; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04006; F25J3/04012; F25J3/04018; F25J3/04763; F25J3/04866; F25J3/04969; F05; F05B; F05B2260/00; F05B2260/20; F05B2260/211; F05B2260/212; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/02; F25J2205/04; F25J2230/00; F25J2230/04; F25J2245/00; F25J2245/02; F25J2245/40; F28D; F28D21/00; F28D2021/0019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for increasing the capacity of a gas compressor comprising: (a) a supercharger for receiving, compressing and discharging a gas flow; and (b) an evaporative cooler comprising a section of pipe connecting said supercharger with the compressor, said pipe having a nozzle for spraying and evaporating a liquid into the gas flow for cooling of the gas flow, said nozzle having internal passages sized to atomize a liquid into droplets of mean diameter from about 4 to about 20 microns, said evaporative cooler being capable of completely evaporating the liquid sprayed into the gas flow before reaching the compressor so as to increase the capacity of the compressor and minimize the electrical power used by the compressor while delivering the desired mass flow of gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for increasing the capacity of a gas compressor comprising: (a) a supercharger for receiving, compressing and discharging a gas flow; and (b) an evaporative cooler comprising a section of pipe connecting said supercharger with the compressor, said pipe having a nozzle for spraying and evaporating a liquid into the gas flow for cooling of the gas flow, said nozzle having internal passages sized to atomize a liquid into droplets of mean diameter from about 4 to about 20 microns, said evaporative cooler being capable of completely evaporating the liquid sprayed into the gas flow before reaching the compressor so as to increase the capacity of the compressor and minimize the electrical power used by the compressor while delivering the desired mass flow of gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein said gas compressor has intercoolers and aftercoolers and said system further comprises means for collecting condensate from the intercoolers and aftercoolers and returning the condensate for spraying into the gas flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as in claim 2 wherein the gas is air and liquid for cooling of the air flow is water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein said pipe has a diameter and length to provide a residence time of from about 0.05 to about 1.0 seconds for the droplets in the gas flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein said pipe has a nozzle with internal passages sized to atomize a liquid into droplets of mean diameter from about 8 to about 12 microns and said pipe has a diameter and length to provide a residence time of from about 0.2 to about 0.4 seconds for the droplets in the gas flow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein the gas has a flow velocity of not more than about 100 feet per second in said evaporative cooler.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein the gas has a flow velocity of from about 15 to about 50 feet per second in said evaporative cooler.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein said nozzle is oriented to discharge upstream at an angle of not more than about 60° to the pipe wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein said nozzle is oriented to discharge upstream at an angle of about 45° to the pipe wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein said pipe has a diameter and length to provide a residence time of from about 0.05 to about 1.0 seconds for the droplets in the gas flow, and wherein said nozzle is oriented to discharge upstream at an angle of not more than about 60° to the pipe wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system as in claim 1 further comprising: (c) a sensor for monitoring gas temperature at the entrance to the gas compressor; (d) a sensor for monitoring gas humidity at the entrance to the gas compressor; and (e) a controller for processing the monitored gas temperature and monitored gas humidity and for regulating the flow of liquid to said nozzle so that the liquid sprayed into the gas flow is completely evaporated before reaching the gas compressor, and the electrical power used by the gas compressor is minimized.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for increasing the gas flow capacity of a gas compressor, said method comprising: (a) supercharging the gas flow; (b) providing a liquid capable of evaporation into and cooling the gas flow; (c) atomizing the liquid into droplets having a mean diameter of from about 4 to about 20 microns; (d) introducing the liquid droplets into the gas flow; and (e) evaporating completely the liquid droplets sprayed into the gas flow before reaching the compressor so as to increase the capacity of the compressor and minimize the electrical power used by the compressor while delivering the desired mass flow of gas.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for increasing the gas flow capacity of a gas compressor, said method comprising: (a) supercharging the gas flow; (b) providing a liquid capable of evaporation into and cooling the gas flow; (c) atomizing the liquid into droplets having a mean diameter of from about 4 to about 20 microns; (d) introducing the liquid droplets into the gas flow; and (e) evaporating completely the liquid droplets sprayed into the gas flow before reaching the compressor so as to increase the capacity of the compressor and minimize the electrical power used by the compressor while delivering the desired mass flow of gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in claim 12 further comprising: (e) collecting condensate from the gas compressor intercoolers and aftercoolers; and (j) returning the condensate for atomization into the supercharged gas flow.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as in claim 13 wherein the gas is air and the liquid is water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method as in claim 11 further comprising: (e) monitoring the gas temperature at the entrance to the gas compressor; (f) monitoring the gas humidity at the entrance to the gas compressor; and (g) processing the monitored gas temperature and monitored gas humidity and regulating the flow of liquid to said nozzle so that the liquid sprayed into the gas flow is completely evaporated before reaching the gas compressor, and the electrical power used by the gas compressor is minimized.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method as in claim 11 further comprising: (f) directing the droplets upstream into the gas flow at an angle of not more than 60° to the gas flow direction; and (g) providing a residence time of from about 0.05 to about 1.0 seconds for the droplets in the gas flow before entering the compressor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-31 | 1997-08-02 | 1998-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-31 | 2001-08-02 | 2002-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-31 | 2005-08-02 | 2006-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |