Refrigeration-based compressed-gas dryer

Abstract

A refrigeration-based compressed-gas dryer ( 10 ) comprises a container ( 51 ), which encloses part of a group of heat exchangers ( 11 ) including a heat-recovery apparatus ( 20 ) and an evaporator ( 30 ). According to the invention, the dryer comprises a condensate drainage system ( 90 ), which is integrated with said group of heat-exchangers ( 11 ) to form a unitary assembly, wherein said condensate drainage system ( 90 ) comprises at least a sensor ( 56 ) that is adapted to detect the condensate level inside the container ( 51 ).

1 . Refrigeration-based compressed-gas dryer ( 10 ) comprising a container ( 51 ), which encloses part of a group of heat-exchangers ( 11 ) including a heat-recovery apparatus ( 20 ) and an evaporator ( 30 ), characterized in that the dryer comprises a condensate drainage system ( 90 ), which is integrated with said group of heat-exchangers ( 11 ) to form a unitary assembly, wherein said condensate drainage system ( 90 ) comprises at least a sensor ( 56 ) that is adapted to detect the condensate level inside the dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       2 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a condensate separator ( 50 ) located inside said container ( 51 ) close to the evaporator ( 30 ).  
   
   
       3 . Dryer according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said condensate drainage system ( 90 ) comprises an electronic control unit ( 58 ) and a condensate exhaust arrangement ( 52 ).  
   
   
       4 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said  30  condensate exhaust arrangement ( 52 ) is directly connected with a bottom portion ( 53 ) of the container ( 51 ) of the dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       5 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said condensate exhaust arrangement ( 52 ) comprises an outlet valve for letting off the condensate accumulating in the bottom portion ( 53 ) of the container ( 51 ) of the dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       6 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said condensate outlet valve of the condensate exhaust arrangement ( 52 ) is an electromagnetic valve.  
   
   
       7 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said condensate separator ( 50 ) is made of metal.  
   
   
       8 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said at least a sensor ( 56 ) is housed inside the bottom portion ( 53 ) of the container ( 51 ) of the dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       9 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said at least a sensor ( 56 ) is housed outside the bottom portion ( 53 ) of the container ( 51 ) of the dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       10 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said at least a sensor ( 56 ) is constituted by two level sensors adapted to detect a lowest allowable level and a highest allowable level, respectively, of the condensate inside the bottom portion ( 53 ) of the container ( 51 ) of the dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       11 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said at least a sensor ( 56 ) is a capacitive-type sensor.  
   
   
       12 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said condensate drainage system ( 90 ) comprises at least a sensor-holder ( 54 ) adapted to properly accommodate said at least a sensor ( 56 ).  
   
   
       13 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 12 , characterized in that said least a sensor-holder ( 54 ) is made of a plastic material.  
   
   
       14 . Dryer ( 10 ) according  claim 1 , characterized in that it includes a tap and/or filter.  
   
   
       15 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said tap is connected to the bottom portion ( 53 ) of the container ( 51 ) of the dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       16 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said filter is connected to the bottom portion ( 53 ) of the container ( 51 ) of the dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       17 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said heat recovery apparatus ( 20 ) and said evaporator ( 30 ) are integrated with each other and with the condensate drainage system ( 90 ) to form a single-piece, unitary assembly.  
   
   
       18 . Refrigeration-based compressed-gas dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said electronic control unit ( 58 ) is the same one that also controls the operation of the entire dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       19 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said condensate exhaust arrangement ( 52 ) comprises an outlet valve for letting off the condensate accumulating in the bottom portion ( 53 ) of the container ( 51 ) of the dryer ( 10 ).  
   
   
       20 . Dryer ( 10 ) according to  claim 19 , characterized in that said condensate outlet valve of the condensate exhaust arrangement ( 52 ) is an electromagnetic valve.