MOISTURE MEASURING DEVICE FOR GASES

Abstract

A moisture measuring device for gases, in particular compressed gases, compressed air and the like, for moisture content detection in a gas supply system, includes a gas sampling input for the test gas which is connected to the gas supply system. A separate gas channel used only for the moisture measurement branches off from the gas sampling input. The separate gas channel is connected with a measuring cell in which a dew point sensor is arranged. A drying cell with a drying agent is connected downstream of the measuring cell. The drying cell is substantially hermetically sealed against the outside environment. Lastly, the output side of the drying cell is connected to an outlet channel leading to the outside environment. A gas supply system may have the form of a compressed gas system, a compressor station, a storage system and the like.

Claims

1. A moisture measuring device for a gas in a gas supply system, comprising: a gas sampling input connected to the gas supply system for the gas to be measured, a measuring cell which is substantially hermetically sealed against an outside environment and which has an outlet channel connected to the outside environment, a dew point sensor arranged in the measuring cell, a separate gas channel branching off from the gas sampling input and connected to the measuring cell, with the separate gas channel being used only for moisture measurement, and a drying cell connected downstream of the measuring cell and containing a drying agent.

2. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, wherein the separate gas channel can be shut off on an input side upstream of the measuring cell or downstream of the drying cell, or both, when gas supply from the gas supply is switched off.

3. The moisture measuring device of claim 2, further comprising a valve for shutting off the separate gas channel.

4. The moisture measuring device of claim 3, wherein the valve is a check valve.

5. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle arranged between the measuring cell and the drying cell.

6. The moisture measuring device of claim 5, wherein the nozzle is arranged in a separating disc disposed between the measuring cell and the drying cell.

7. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a combined metal and polymer seal arranged on an output side of the drying cell for hermetic sealing against the outside environment.

8. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, wherein threaded connections of the moisture measuring device are sealed by way of thread sealing tape.

9. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, wherein the separate, branching-off gas channel comprises a nozzle arranged upstream of the measuring cell and operating as a pressure reducer.

10. The moisture measuring device of claim 8, wherein the threads of the threaded connections are made by shaping.

11. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, wherein the drying agent is composed of a material selected from a molecular sieve, silica gel, activated alumina and activated carbon.

12. The moisture measuring device of claim 11, wherein the molecular sieve has a size of 3 {acute over ()}, 4 {acute over ()} or 10 {acute over ()}.

13. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, wherein the moisture measuring device is constructed as an independent, self-sufficient, mobile device.

14. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, wherein the moisture measuring device is integrated in the gas supply system.

15. The moisture measuring device of claim 14, wherein the moisture measuring device is integrated in a compressor station of the gas supply system.

16. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, wherein the gas supply systems comprise systems selected from pressurized gas supply systems, compressor stations and gas storage systems.

17. The moisture measuring device of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises a compressed gas or compressed air.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the sole FIG. 1 shows in cross-section a moisture measuring device for gases according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The depicted embodiment is to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the FIGURE may not necessarily be to scale. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0024] Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a measuring device 1 for gases, especially for compressed gases. A gas sampling input 2 is connected to an unillustrated gas supply system. Gas supply systems are in particular pressurized gas supply systems, such as compressor stations, storage systems and the like.

[0025] The gas entering from the supply system via the gas sampling input 2 flows through a gas inlet passage 3. Therefrom, a separate gas channel 4 used only for the moisture measurement branches off.

[0026] The connecting passages arranged downstream of the branching-off gas channel 4 lead to additional unillustrated sensor arrangements for possibly determining further gas constituents.

[0027] The separate, branching-off gas channel 4 is in communication with a measuring cell 5 in which a dew point sensor 6 is arranged. A nozzle 7 which serves as a pressure reducing valve and reduces the gas pressure to approximately atmospheric pressure is arranged in the separate gas channel 4 upstream of the measuring cell 5. The measuring cell 5 is in communication with the downstream drying cell 8, in which an unillustrated drying agent is disposed. The drying cell 8 is substantially hermetically sealed against the outside environment. An outlet channel 9 which leads from the drying cell 8 to the outside environment branches off on the output side.

[0028] In order to prevent ingress of moisture when the gas supply is shut off, the separate gas channel 4 can be shut off on the input side upstream of the measuring cell 5 and/or downstream of the drying cell 8, for which purpose exemplary check valves 10, 11 are shown in the sole FIGURE.

[0029] A combined metal and polymer seal 12 is provided on the output side of the drying cell 8 for hermetically sealing the drying cell 8 against the outside environment. Existing threaded connections, which are indicated schematically by the reference symbol 13, can be additionally sealed with a thread sealing tape. The threads can preferably be formed by shaping in order to obtain the smoothest possible surfaces of the threaded connections.

[0030] A nozzle 14, which in the illustrated example is formed by a separation disk 15 disposed between the measuring cell 5 and the drying cell 8, is arranged between the measuring cell 5 and the drying cell 8. This separation disk 15 is retained and sealed by an elastomer seal 16.

[0031] Although not shown in detail, a molecular sieve, silica gel, activated alumina, activated carbon and the like may be used as a drying agent. If a molecular sieve is employed, the molecular sieve may have a size of 3{acute over ()}, 4{acute over ()} or 10{acute over ()}.

[0032] The moisture measuring device 1 designed according to the invention may be constructed as an independent, self-sufficient, mobile device, or may be integrated, for example, in a gas supply system, such as a compressor station.

[0033] To prevent ingress of significant quantities of moisture when the gas supply is disconnected, a shut-off device, such as a check valve 10, is arranged in the gas channel 4 upstream of the measuring cell 5. If necessary, a shut-off device can also be provided downstream of the drying cell 8 which can be formed of the illustrated check valve 11. In this way, when the gas supply is switched off, the entire region of separate branching-off gas channel 4 with the measuring cell 5 or the drying cell 8 can be reliably shut off and thus kept as dry as possible.

[0034] While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and practical application, in particular a separate gas channel 4 used only for measuring moisture, wherein the gas channel 4 is connected for communication with a measuring cell 5 and a downstream drying cell 8, to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0035] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of the elements recited therein: