Device and method for drying fluids conducted in closed circuits

Abstract

A device for drying fluids conducted in a closed circuit provides a bypass line which can be switched in parallel to a pipe of the closed circuit that conducts a fluid via a first valve and a second valve. A first demoisturizer may be disposed in the bypass line. A method for drying fluids conducted in closed circuits is also provided. Part of the fluid may be directed from the pipe of the closed circuit into the bypass line connected in parallel to the pipe of the closed circuit and dried using the device according to the system described herein.

1 . A device for drying fluids circulating in closed circuits, comprising:
 a bypass line which is switchable via a first valve and a second valve parallel to a pipe of a closed circuit conducting a fluid; and   a first demoisturizer situated in the bypass line.   
     
     
         2 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second demoisturizer situated in the bypass line downstream from the first demoisturizer.   
     
     
         3 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a third valve situated between the first valve and the first demoisturizer; and   a fourth valve situated between the second demoisturizer and the second valve, either the first demoisturizer or the second demoisturizer being switchable downstream from the first valve via the third valve in the direction of flow, and either the second demoisturizer or the first demoisturizer being switchable upstream from the second valve via the fourth valve, so that when the fluid flows from the third valve to the fourth valve, the fluid flows either first through the first demoisturizer and then through the second demoisturizer or first through the second demoisturizer and then through the first demoisturizer.   
     
     
         4 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first demoisturizer includes at least one of: a moisture exchanger and a moisture filter. 
     
     
         5 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second demoisturizer includes at least one of: a moisture exchanger and a moisture filter. 
     
     
         6 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of: the first demoisturizer and the second demoisturizer includes a moisture filter having an integrated moisture exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first demoisturizer includes a moisture filter and the second demoisturizer includes a moisture exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first demoisturizer and the second demoisturizer include moisture filters, and the device further comprising:
 an additional demoisturizer situated between the first demoisturizer and the second demoisturizer, wherein the additional demoisturizer includes a moisture exchanger.   
     
     
         9 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of: the first demoisturizer and the second demoisturizer includes a moisture exchanger, and the device further comprising:
 a moisture gradient device for generating a moisture gradient, wherein the moisture gradient device is situated on a side of the moisture exchanger facing away from the closed circuit.   
     
     
         10 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the moisture gradient device includes a vacuum device for generating a vacuum. 
     
     
         11 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , the moisture gradient device includes a drying agent supply device which directs a drying agent past a moisture exchanger into a drying agent discharge device. 
     
     
         12 . The device as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a third demoisturizer situated between the drying agent supply device and the moisture exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The device as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a fourth demoisturizer situated between the moisture exchanger and the drying agent discharge device.   
     
     
         14 . The device as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a fifth valve situated between the drying agent supply device and the third demoisturizer; and   a sixth valve is situated between the fourth demoisturizer and the drying agent discharge device, either the third demoisturizer or the fourth demoisturizer being switchable downstream from the drying agent supply device via the fifth valve in the direction of flow, and either the fourth demoisturizer or the third demoisturizer being switchable upstream from the drying agent discharge device via the sixth valve, so that when the fluid flows from the drying agent supply device to the drying agent discharge device, the fluid flows either first through the third demoisturizer and then through the fourth demoisturizer or first through the fourth demoisturizer and then through the third demoisturizer.   
     
     
         15 . The device as recited in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of: the third demoisturizer and the fourth demoisturizer includes a moisture filter. 
     
     
         16 . The device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the moisture filter is a zeolith filter. 
     
     
         17 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first demoisturizer is heatable. 
     
     
         18 . The device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the moisture exchanger is heatable. 
     
     
         19 . The device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the moisture exchanger is a moisture-permeable diaphragm. 
     
     
         20 . The device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the moisture exchanger includes a porous ceramic tube having a zeolith coating. 
     
     
         21 . The device as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the ceramic tube is filled with a zeolith granulate. 
     
     
         22 . The device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the ceramic tube is made of a PTC ceramic. 
     
     
         23 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a compressor situated in the pipe of the closed circuit conducting the fluid.   
     
     
         24 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a moisture sensor situated in the bypass line.   
     
     
         25 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein, at least one of the following:
 the fluid is a refrigerant, and   the closed circuit is a refrigeration system.   
     
     
         26 . A method for drying fluids circulating in closed circuits, comprising:
 directing at least part of a fluid from a pipe of a closed circuit conducting the fluid into a bypass line connected in parallel to the pipe of the closed circuit conducting the fluid; and   drying the at least part of the fluid using a drying device disposed in the bypass line, the drying device including at least one demoisturizer.   
     
     
         27 . A method for drying fluids circulating in closed circuits, comprising:
 directing at least part of a fluid from a pipe of a closed circuit conducting the fluid into a bypass line, connected in parallel to the pipe of the closed circuit, via a first valve and a second valve; and   drying the at least part of the fluid using a drying device disposed in the bypass line, the drying device including:
 a first demoisturizer that includes a first moisture filter; and 
 a second demoisturizer that includes a moisture exchanger, wherein the moisture filter is heated when reaching a defined moisture threshold value to drive out moisture accumulated in the moisture filter and discharge the moisture via the moisture exchanger. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the drying device further includes a third demoisturizer disposed in the bypass line, the third moisturizer including a second moisture filter. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein a third valve is situated between the first valve and the first demoisturizer, and a fourth valve is situated between the second demoisturizer and the second valve, either the first demoisturizer or the second demoisturizer being switchable downstream from the first valve via the third valve in the direction of flow, and either the second demoisturizer or the first demoisturizer is switchable upstream from the second valve via the fourth valve, so that when the fluid flows from the third valve to the fourth valve, the fluid flows either first through the first demoisturizer and then through the second demoisturizer or first through the second demoisturizer and then through the first demoisturizer. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 29 , wherein, after heating the first demoisturizer for driving out the accumulated moisture, the direction of flow is reversed. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the drying device further includes a device for generating a moisture gradient that is situated on a side of the moisture exchanger facing away from the closed circuit. 
     
     
         32 . The device as recited in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of: the first demoisturizer, the second demoisturizer, the third demoisturizer, and the fourth demoisturizer is heatable. 
     
     
         33 . The device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the moisture-permeable diaphragm is at least one of: a Nafion diaphragm and a zeolith molecular sieve. 
     
     
         34 . The device as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the moisture sensor is disposed downstream from the first demoisturizer.