Filtration in gas dehydration

Abstract

A filter for a sorbent regeneration process includes a base, a central rod, support frames, and a filter screen. The central rod is coupled to the base and defines a longitudinal axis of the filter. Each of the support frames are coupled to and protrude radially from the central rod. Each of the support frames are coupled to the base. For each pair of neighboring support frames, the filter includes a triangular support member disposed between the pair of neighboring support frames. Each triangular member is coupled to the central rod and to each of the neighboring support frames. The filter screen surrounds the support frames and is coupled to the support frames and to the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 flowing a gas stream through a gas dehydrator comprising a sorbent, wherein the gas stream has an operating temperature at which water desorbs from the sorbent, thereby regenerating the sorbent; and   after flowing the gas stream through the gas dehydrator, flowing the gas stream through a filter, the filter comprising:
 a base; 
 a central rod coupled to the base, the central rod defining a longitudinal axis of the filter; 
 a plurality of support frames, each of the support frames coupled to and protruding radially from the central rod, each of the support frames coupled to the base; 
 for each pair of neighboring support frames, a triangular support member disposed between the pair of neighboring support frames, the triangular support member coupled to the central rod and to each of the neighboring support frames; and 
 a filter screen surrounding the plurality of support frames, the filter screen coupled to the plurality of support frames and to the base, wherein flowing the gas stream through the filter comprises flowing the gas stream through the filter screen radially inward toward the central rod. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein flowing the gas stream through the filter comprises flowing the gas stream out of the filter through the base. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the support frames have a height that is substantially the same as a length of the central rod. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein for each pair of neighboring support frames:
 a first side of the triangular support member is coupled to a first support frame of the pair of neighboring support frames;   the first side of the triangular support member has a width that is at least ¾ of a width of the first support frame;   a second side of the triangular support member is coupled to a second support frame of the pair of neighboring support frames; and   the second side of the triangular support member has a width that is at least ¾ of a width of the second support frame.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each triangular support member defines an inner bore, and flowing the gas stream through the filter comprises flowing at least a portion of the gas stream through the inner bore of at least one of the triangular support members. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein for each pair of neighboring support frames, the triangular support member is one of a plurality of triangular support members disposed between the pair of neighboring support frames and distributed along the length of the central rod, each of the triangular support members coupled to the central rod and to each of the neighboring support frames. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each of the support frames are porous, and flowing the gas stream through the filter comprises flowing at least a portion of the gas stream through at least one of the support frames.