Apparatus for heating purge gas and transmitting microwave energy for desiccant regeneration

摘要

An improved regenerative gas drying system (30) having an adsorbing chamber (36) and a regenerating chamber (46) with both chambers containing desiccant (38) in which the adsorbing chamber (36) receives wet gas (31) for adsorption of moisture by the desiccant (38) contained therein to create a drier gas (40) and in which a portion of the drier gas (40) exits the adsorbing chamber (36) and is directed and carried to the regenerating chamber (46) to dry the desiccant (38) contained within the regenerating chamber (46). A chamber drier gas heating apparatus has a conduit (55) disposed within the desiccant (38) of the regenerating chamber (46) in which the conduit (55) carries the drier gas (40) directed from the adsorbing chamber (36) to the regenerating chamber (46) and includes a microwave antenna (48) in communication with microwaves (50) generated by a microwave generator (54) coupled with the antenna (48) in which at least a portion of the antenna (48) is positioned within desiccant (38) contained in the regenerating chamber (46). A method is further provided for positioning a conduit (55) within the desiccant (38) of the regenerating chamber (46) in which the conduit (55) carries the drier gas (40) directed from the adsorbing chamber (36) to the regenerating chamber (46) and positioning a microwave antenna (48) in communication with microwaves (50) generated by a microwave generator (54) coupled with the antenna (48) in which at least a portion of the antenna (48) is positioned within desiccant (38) contained in the regenerating chamber (46).