PASSIVE WATER REMOVAL FOR COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS

A CONCEPT FOR PASSIVE REMOVAL OF WATER FROM COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLY LINES IS PROPOSED. RELYING ON SURFACE TENSION EFFECTS TO REMOVE THE WATER, THIS CONCEPT IS FEASIBLE FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT BECAUSE OF AN INVENTIVE MANUFACTURING APPROACH DEVELOPED BY ALABAMA CRYOGENIC ENGINEERING. THE PHASE I EFFORT INCLUDES THEORETICAL MODELING AND FEASIBILITY TESTING OF CRITICAL ASPECTS OF THE CONCEPT. RESULTS OBTAINED FROM THESE EFFORTS WILL PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR CONTINUATION INTO A PHASE II PROGRAM. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS: THE CONCEPT OPERATES WITHOUT ACTIVE MEASURES, IS SIMPLE TO INTEGRATED INTO EXISTING SYSTEMS AND APPEARS COMMERCIALLY VIABLE. SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS ARISING FROM INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND REDUCED MAINTENANCE ARE EXPECTED.