Drying Device and Drying System

Abstract

A drying device for removal of water at least from a liquid is provided with a connection head to be connected to a housing wall of a device for receiving the liquid. Dryer modules each containing a drying agent are provided. The dryer modules are connected by an articulated connection to each other, respectively. The dryer modules include a first dryer module and a last dryer module, wherein the last dryer module has at least two rotatory degrees of freedom relative to the first dryer module and/or relative to the connection head. Drying systems are provided with such a drying device to remove water from a liquid.

Claims

1. A drying device for removal of water at least from a liquid, the drying device comprising: a connection head configured to be connected to a housing wall of a device for receiving the liquid; dryer modules each containing a drying agent; wherein the dryer modules are connected by an articulated connection to each other, respectively; wherein the dryer modules include a first dryer module and a last dryer module, wherein the last dryer module comprises at least two rotatory degrees of freedom in relation to the first dryer module and/or in relation to the connection head.

2. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the dryer modules include a second dryer module immediately sequentially arranged next to the first dryer module, wherein a first pivot axis is provided between the first dryer module and the second dryer module and a second pivot axis is provided between the last dryer module and a preceding dryer module that immediately precedes the last dryer module, wherein the first pivot axis is not parallel to the second pivot axis.

3. The drying device according to claim 2, wherein the first pivot axis is perpendicular to the second pivot axis.

4. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the dryer modules include two immediately sequentially arranged dryer modules comprising precisely one rotatory degree of freedom relative to each other.

5. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the dryer modules include two immediately sequentially arranged dryer modules comprising at least two rotary degrees of freedom relative to each other.

6. The drying device according to claim 5, wherein said two immediately sequentially arranged dryer modules are connected to each other by a ball joint forming the articulated connection.

7. The drying device according to claim 5, wherein said two immediately sequentially arranged dryer modules are connected to each other by a hook element provided at one of said two immediately sequentially arranged dryer modules and engaging an eye element provided at the other one of said two immediately sequentially arranged dryer modules, wherein the hook element and the eye element form the articulated connection.

8. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein each one of the dryer modules comprises a first connecting element at a first end and a second connecting element at a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first connecting element and the second connecting element of two immediately sequentially arranged ones of the dryer modules interact with each other, respectively, to form the articulated connection.

9. The drying device according to claim 1, further comprising an envelope enveloping all of the dryer modules, wherein the envelope is embodied as one piece.

10. The drying device according to claim 9, wherein the articulated connection between the dryer modules is a film hinge formed in the envelope, respectively.

11. The drying device according to claim 9, wherein the envelope is a hose comprising a hose wall, wherein the hose wall in a region of the articulated connection between two immediately sequentially arranged ones of the dryer modules is pulled together along a pivot axis between said two immediately sequentially arranged ones of the dryer modules.

12. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the drying agent comprises a crystalline porous adsorber material.

13. The drying device according to claim 12, wherein the crystalline porous adsorber material is a molecular sieve.

14. The drying device according to claim 13, wherein the molecular sieve is a zeolite molecular sieve.

15. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the drying agent contained in the first dryer module is a first drying agent for removal of water from air and wherein the drying agent contained in the last dryer module is a second drying agent for removal of water from the liquid, wherein the first and second drying agents are different.

16. A drying system for removal of water at least from a liquid, the drying system comprising: a drying device according to claim 1; and a device containing the liquid; wherein the liquid is a cooling agent or an oil.

17. The drying system according to claim 16, wherein the oil is an electrically nonconducting insulating oil and contains one or more substances selected from the group consisting of a polyol ester oil, a lubricant oil, a dialcohol, and a poly-alpha-olefin.

18. A drying system for removal of water at least from a liquid, the drying system comprising: a drying device according to claim 1; and a device configured to receive the liquid; wherein the device configured to receive the liquid comprises an electric motor, a transmission, a fuel cell, a transformer or a rechargeable battery.

19. The drying system for removal of water at least from a liquid, the drying device comprising: a drying device comprising dryer modules containing a drying agent and connected by an articulated connection to each other; and a device containing the liquid; wherein the drying device is arranged such that at least one of the dryer modules is immersed in the liquid and another one of the dryer modules is arranged in a head space above the liquid.

20. A thermal management module for a transmission, an electric motor, an internal combustion engine, a transformer, a rechargeable battery, a battery or a braking system, the thermal management module comprising a drying device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, from the claims as well as based on the Figures of the drawing showing details according to the invention.

[0038] The aforementioned and still to be described features can be realized individually on their own, respectively, or several combined in any combinations in variants of the invention. The features disclosed in the drawing are illustrated such that the particularities according to the invention can be made clearly visible.

[0039] FIG. 1a shows a drying device with four dryer modules that are connected to each other by hook and eye elements, in a schematic perspective view.

[0040] FIG. 1b shows the drying device of FIG. 1a in a schematic side view.

[0041] FIG. 2a shows a drying device with four dryer modules that are connected to each other by ball joints, in a schematic perspective view.

[0042] FIG. 2b shows the drying device of FIG. 2a in a schematic side view.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a drying device with four dryer modules that comprise as a whole a one-piece envelope, wherein between neighboring dryer modules film hinges are formed in the envelope, in a schematic perspective view.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a drying system with a drying device with five dryer modules of which four are immersed in a fluid, in a schematic side view.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] FIG. 1a shows a drying device 10a in a perspective view. In FIG. 1b, the drying device 10a of FIG. 1a is illustrated in a side view. The drying device 10a serves for removal of water from a fluid that is preferably present in the form of oil. The drying device 10a comprises four dryer modules 12a-12d. The dryer modules 12a-12d contain each a drying agent, not illustrated in detail. The drying agent is here a zeolite molecular sieve, respectively. As an alternative, in particular the dryer module 12a, in case that in operation it is arranged in a space above the liquid that is generally filled with air, can contain a silica gel as drying agent for removal of water from the air.

[0046] The dryer modules 12a-12d are respectively connected in an articulated manner to each other. For this purpose, each one of the dryer modules 12a-12d comprises at the upper end a hook element 14 and at the lower end an eye element 16. Thus, each one of the dryer modules 12a-12d comprises at one end a respective same-type first connecting element 15 and, at the other end, a respective second connecting element 17 that is of the same type among the dryer modules 12a-12d. A first connecting element 15 is coupled respectively with a second connecting element 17 in order to provide an articulated connection of the respectively coupled dryer modules 12a-12d. The eye element 16 of one of the dryer modules 12a-12c is engaged respectively by the hook element 14 of the dryer module 12b-12d that is arranged immediately underneath. In this way, it is provided that two immediately adjacently arranged dryer modules 12a-12d each have two rotatory degrees of freedom relative to each other. In particular, the last dryer module 12d has at least two rotatory degrees of freedom relative to the first dryer module 12a.

[0047] The hook elements 14 and the eye elements 16 are formed here at upper or lower strips 18 of the dryer modules 12a-12d, respectively. A housing body 20 of the dryer modules 12a-12d forms a rigid envelope 22, respectively. The envelope 22 which is formed by the housing body 20 can be flowed through by the fluid. The envelope 22, in other words, is permeable for the fluid. In this context, the housing body 20 is embodied as a grid-shaped plastic cage. A mesh width of the grid-shaped plastic cage is selected to be so small, here approximately 100 μm, that the drying agent is retained in the dryer modules 12a-12d. In an embodiment, not illustrated in detail, a filter medium with a still smaller pore size of, for example, approximately 20 μm, can be arranged at the inner and/or outer side at the housing body 20. The filter medium can also reliably retain abraded particles and/or fragments of the drying agent.

[0048] For forming the strips 18, the plastic cage of the housing body 20 is compressed along the strips and oppositely positioned wall sections are welded to each other. The pivot axis 23a, 23b which can be correlated with the rotatory degrees of freedom between neighboring dryer modules 12a-12d can extend here parallel to the strips 18 of the respective dryer modules 12a-12d through the coupled hook and eye elements 14, 16.

[0049] The drying device 10a comprises here moreover a connection head 24. By means of the connection head 24, the drying device 10a can be fastened to a housing wall of a device for receiving the fluid that is not illustrated. The connection head 24 is provided here with an outer thread 26. By means of the outer thread 26 the connection head 24 can be screwed into a corresponding inner thread of an opening in the housing wall (not illustrated). This enables a simple and fast attachment or exchange of the drying device 10a. Above the outer thread 26, a sealing element 28, here an O-ring, can be arranged at the connection head 24. The connection head 24 comprises a groove 30 for receiving the sealing element 28 in which the sealing element 28 is held.

[0050] In a further embodiment, not illustrated in detail, the connection head 24 can comprise a connection opening. Through the connection opening, the fluid can be guided to the dryer modules 12a-12d of the drying device 10a or away from the dryer modules 12a-12d. In this way, a targeted inflow to the dryer modules 12a-12d can be realized. This can further improve the drying performance of the drying device 10a. The connection opening can be embodied here as a through cutout in the connection head 24 wherein the through cutout preferably can be arranged parallel, in particular coaxial, to the outer thread 26.

[0051] The connection head 24 comprises a fastening element 32. The fastening element 32 serves for connecting the first dryer module 12a to the connection head 24. The fastening element 32 is embodied here as an eye. The eye of the connection head 24 is preferably of the same kind as the eye elements 16 of the dryer modules 12a-12d. The hook element 14 of the first dryer module 12a engages here the fastening element 32 which is embodied as an eye. In this way, the dryer module 12a is connected in an articulated manner to the connection head 24. In particular, the dryer module 12a has two rotatory degrees of freedom relative to the connection head 24.

[0052] FIG. 2a shows a drying device 10b in a perspective view. In FIG. 2b, the drying device 10b of FIG. 2a is illustrated in a side view. The drying device 10b serves for removing water from a fluid that is preferably present in the form of oil. The drying device 10b comprises four dryer modules 12a-12d. The dryer modules 12a-12d contain respectively a drying agent, not illustrated in detail. The drying agent is here a zeolite molecular sieve, respectively. Alternatively, in particular the dryer module 12a, in case that in operation it is arranged in a space above the fluid that is generally filled with air, can contain a silica gel as a drying agent for removal of water from the air.

[0053] The dryer modules 12a-12d are connected to each other in an articulated manner, respectively. For this purpose, between two immediately adjacently arranged dryer modules 12a-12d, a ball joint 34 is provided, respectively. Due to the connection by means of the ball joint 34, neighboring dryer modules 12a-12d each have three rotatory degrees of freedom relative to each other. In particular, the last dryer module 12d has three rotatory degrees of freedom relative to the first dryer module 12a.

[0054] The ball joints 34 are formed by a ball head 36 and a joint socket 38, respectively. The ball head 36 and the joint socket 38, as first and second connecting elements 15, 17, are arranged at one end and the other end at the dryer modules 12a-12d, respectively. The joint sockets 38 are here embodied slotted, beginning at their free end, in order to facilitate insertion (locking) of the correlated ball head 36. In the mounted state, the ball heads 36 are held with form fit in the joint sockets 38, respectively.

[0055] The first and second fastening elements 15 and 17 are arranged in the drying device 10b at upper or lower strips 18 of the dryer modules 12a-12d. The strips 18 form each a termination at the top or bottom of an envelope 22 of the dryer modules 12a-12d. The envelope 22 is here formed by a rigid housing body 20, for example, of a perforated plastic material. Alternatively, the envelope 22 can be formed of an in particular flexible fleece material that is connected to the strips 18 (not illustrated in detail).

[0056] The drying device 10b comprises a connection head 24. The first dryer module 12a is fastened to the connection head 24. Here, the dryer module 12a is connected to the connection head 24 in an articulated manner. The connection head 24 comprises a fastening element 32 in the form of a joint socket which is engaged by the ball head 36 of the dryer module 12a. In this way, the dryer module 12a has three rotatory degrees of freedom relative to the connection head 24. In other respects, the connection head 24 of the drying device 10b corresponds to the connection head 24 of the drying device 10a of FIGS. 1a, 1b.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a drying device 10c in a perspective view. The drying device 10c serves for removal of water from a fluid that is preferably present in the form of oil. The drying device 10c comprises five dryer modules 12a-12e. The dryer modules 12a-12e contain each a drying agent, not illustrated in detail. The drying agent is here a zeolite molecular sieve, respectively. As an alternative thereto, in particular the drying module 12a, in case that in operation it is arranged in a space above the liquid that is generally filled with air, can contain a silica gel as drying agent for removal of water from the air.

[0058] The dryer modules 12a-12e are each connected in an articulated manner to each other. Here, two dryer modules 12a-12e immediately neighboring each other comprise each precisely one rotatory degree of freedom relative to each other. One pivot axis 40a-40d between two neighboring dryer modules 12a-12e is correlated with this rotatory degree of freedom, respectively. Immediately sequentially arranged pivot axes 40a-40d do not extend parallel but here perpendicularly to each other. In particular, the pivot axis 40a between the first dryer module 12a and the immediately sequentially arranged dryer module 12b extends here perpendicularly to the pivot axis 40d between the last dryer module 12e and the immediately preceding dryer module 12d. It should be noted that one or several further dryer modules can adjoin the last dryer module 12e (not illustrated). The “last” dryer module 12e is then not the last dryer module of the drying device in the meaning of the word. In this meaning, the dryer module 12c could presently also be referred to as the last dryer module of the drying device 10c.

[0059] An envelope 42 of all dryer modules 12a-12e is embodied here as one piece. The envelope 42 is formed by a hose 44 with a hose wall 46 through which the fluid can flow. The articulated connection between neighboring dryer modules 12a-12e is embodied as a film hinge 48 in the envelope 42. For forming the film hinge 48, the hose wall 46 in the region of the respective pivot axes 40a-40d is pulled together and oppositely positioned sections of the hose wall 46 are connected to each other along the respective pivot axis 40a-40d, here welded together, in particular fused to each other by an ultrasonic method. Due to the weld seams which form the film hinges 46, the interior spaces of neighboring dryer modules 12a-12e are separated from each other.

[0060] The hose 44 is made here of a flexible filter medium. The filter medium is preferably a cellulose-free synthetic filter medium. The individual dryer modules 12a-12e are here not inherently rigid but exhibit a certain deformability. The inherent deformability of the dryer modules 12a-12e is however minimal in relation to the pivotability of the dryer modules 12a-12e relative to each other.

[0061] The drying device 10c comprises a connection head 24. The dryer module 12a is fastened in an articulated manner at the connection head 24. For this purpose, the connection head 24 can comprise a fastening element in the form of an eye, compare FIG. 1b. Correspondingly, a coupling element, here a hook for engaging the eye, can be formed at the first dryer module 12a. The coupling element can be embodied as one piece together with the envelope 42. Preferably, the coupling element is embodied as a component separate from the envelope 42 and is connected to the envelope, for example, is welded or glued to the envelope 42.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a drying system 50. The drying system 50 comprises a drying device 10d. The drying device 10d comprises five dryer modules 12a-12e. The dryer modules 12a-12e are connected in an articulated manner to each other, respectively. An envelope 42 of the drying device 10d is embodied as a whole as one piece, as in the drying device 10c of FIG. 3. Here, the pivot axes between neighboring dryer modules 12a-12e each are embodied so as to extend parallel to each other as film hinges 48 in the envelope 42. Alternatively, the drying system 50 can comprise a drying device 10a, 10b or 10c, as they have been described above and are shown in FIGS. 1a to 3.

[0063] The drying system 50 comprises moreover a device 52 in which the fluid 54 is received. The device 52 in which the fluid 54 is received is illustrated here only schematically as a compensation tank. The drying system 50 comprises here, in addition to the compensation tank and the drying device 10d, an electrical device, namely a rechargeable battery (not illustrated here). The rechargeable battery serves as a buffer battery for intermediate storage of regeneratively produced electrical energy and its supply to a power network, for example, of a residential building. The fluid 54 is here an electrically nonconducting insulating oil which is used for cooling the electrical device, i.e., here the rechargeable battery. The insulating oil can contain in particular a polyol ester oil and/or a poly-alpha-olefin. The drying device 10d serves for removal of water, which can be contained as dissolved and/or free water in the fluid 54.

[0064] The drying device 10d comprises a connection head 24. The connection head 24 is screwed into an opening in a housing wall 55 of the device 50 (only schematically illustrated). The dryer module 12a is connected in an articulated manner to the connection head 24. The connection head 24 comprises for this purpose a fastening element 32 in the form of a hook that is interacting with a coupling element 56, here an eye, of the first dryer module 12a; here, the hook engages the eye. In other respects, the connection head 24 can be embodied as described in regard to FIGS. 1a, 1b.

[0065] The dryer modules 12b-12e are immersed in the fluid 54. They contain a zeolite molecular sieve as drying agent for drying the fluid 54. The dryer module 12a is arranged in a head space 58 above the fluid 54. The fluid level 60 is located here between the dryer modules 12a and 12b. The dryer module 12a contains a silica gel as drying agent for drying the air.