Precooler/Chiller/Reheater Heat Exchanger System

Abstract

A system for drying and tempering flowing air that has been compressed to a super atmospheric level prior to treatment by the system. The system includes a precooler and reheater core and a chiller core disposed in adjacent relation for receiving flowing air serially therethrough. A moisture removal section is disposed adjacent to the chiller core for removing entrained moisture from the flowing air. The moisture removal section is defined by sidewalls. The moisture removal section has a demister core disposed therein. The demister core comprises a plurality of fins configured to create an undulating flow through the demister core. The demister core is disposed at an angle with respect to at least one of the sidewalls to create an enlarged entrance area and an enlarged exit area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for drying and tempering flowing air, comprising:
 a housing;   a precooler and reheater core and a chiller core disposed in adjacent relation in the housing for receiving the flowing air serially therethrough;   a moisture removal section disposed in the housing adjacent to the chiller core for removing entrained moisture from the flowing air, the moisture removal section defined by sidewalls, the moisture removal section having a demister core disposed therein, the demister core comprising a plurality of fins configured to create an undulating flow through the demister core; and,   means for providing refrigerant to a second side of the chiller core.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the demister core is disposed at an angle with respect to at least one of the sidewalls to form an enlarged entrance area in the moisture removal section. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the demister core is angled to create a generally triangular shaped space in the moisture removal section. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first crossover manifold for conveying air from the precooler and reheater core to a first side of the chiller core. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first crossover manifold is disposed in an upper portion of the precooler and reheater core. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second crossover manifold for conveying air from said moisture removal section to a second side of the precooler and reheater core. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second crossover manifold is disposed inside the housing across the top of the moisture removal section, chiller core, and precooler and reheater core. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet manifold for conveying warm, moist air to the first side of the precooler and reheater core. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet manifold for conveying dried reheated air from the second side of the precooler and reheater core. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the demister core is formed from a plurality of stamped sheets arranged to form a matrix of offset rectangular fins. 
     
     
         11 . A system for drying and tempering flowing air, comprising:
 a first heat exchanger for precooling and subsequently reheating the flowing air;   a second heat exchanger for chilling the flowing air below the incoming dew point thereof to remove moisture therefrom, the second heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the first heat exchanger such that the flowing air passes serially therethrough;   a moisture removal section having an inlet and an outlet, the moisture removal section disposed adjacent to the second heat exchanger for removing entrained moisture from the air after it exits the second heat exchanger, the moisture removal section defined by sidewalls, the moisture removal section having a demister core disposed therein, the demister core disposed at an angle relative to at least one of the sidewalls to define an enlarged entrance area adjacent to the inlet and an enlarged exit area disposed adjacent to the outlet;   means for providing refrigerant to the second heat exchanger including a distributor in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger for providing refrigerant to a second side of the second heat exchanger and a collector in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger for collecting spent refrigerant from the second side of the second heat exchanger;   wherein said flowing air is compressed to a super atmospheric pressure prior to treatment by the system.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising refrigerating means for receiving the spent refrigerant, recompressing the refrigerant, and providing compressed refrigerant to the distributor. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a first crossover manifold for conveying air from the first heat exchanger to a first side of the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first crossover manifold is disposed in an upper portion of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a second crossover manifold for conveying air from said moisture removal section to a second side of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second crossover manifold is disposed across the top of the moisture removal section, the second heat exchanger, and the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an inlet manifold for conveying warm, moist air to the first side of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an outlet manifold for conveying dried reheated air from the second side of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . A system for drying and tempering flowing air, comprising:
 a first heat exchanger for precooling and subsequently reheating the flowing air;   a second heat exchanger for chilling the flowing air below the incoming dew point thereof to remove moisture therefrom, the second heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the first heat exchanger such that flowing air passes serially therethrough;   a moisture removal section having an inlet and an outlet, the moisture removal section disposed adjacent to the second heat exchanger for removing entrained moisture from the air after it exits the second heat exchanger, the moisture removal section defined by sidewalls, the moisture removal section having a demister core disposed therein, the demister core disposed at an angle relative to at least one of the sidewalls to define an enlarged entrance area adjacent to the inlet and an enlarged exit area disposed adjacent to the outlet;   means for providing refrigerant to a second side of the second heat exchanger;   a first crossover manifold for conveying air from the first heat exchanger to a first side of the second heat exchanger;   a second crossover manifold for conveying air from said moisture removal section to a second side of the first heat exchanger;   an inlet manifold for conveying warm, moist air to the first side of the first heat exchanger;   an outlet manifold for conveying dried reheated air from the second side of the first heat exchanger   wherein said flowing air is compressed to a super atmospheric pressure prior to treatment by the system.