Methods and apparatus for removing moisture from air

• US 4,249,778 A
• Filed: 10/12/1978
• Issued: 02/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: INDRESCO, Inc. (RHI Magnesita NV)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Industries Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: McGuire, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purser, Ernest R.
• Application Number:
  US05/950,548
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 299/12, 299/18, 299/64, 299/68, 55/233, 55/240, 55/257 PV, 55/260, 55/440
• US Class Current: 299/64
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/223 Equipment associated with mining machines for sucking dust-laden air from the cutting area, with or without cleaning of the air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2003/144 by dehumidification only

Abstract

A mining machine of the type comprising a body, a driven cutter mounted on the body, and an air-cleaning system comprising ducting for conducting dust-laden air, a scrubber for applying liquid to the dust-laden air, and a demister for thereafter removing moisture from the air. The demister comprises a moisture separating station having a flow inlet, a flow outlet located rearwardly of the flow inlet, and moisture separating louvers arranged for receiving air flow from the inlet and causing moisture in the air flow to separate-out and gravitate toward a lower collecting surface to be conducted rearwardly. The inlet and outlet each include a lower level. The distance from the collecting surface to the lower level of the inlet is less than the distance from the collecting surface to the lower level of the outlet to minimize the re-entrainment of the rearwardly conducted moisture into the outgoing air flow. A moisture discharge is located adjacent a rearward end of the collecting surface to remove the rearwardly conducted moisture. The discharge comprises an accumulating section located at a rearward end of the collecting surface and includes a forwardly facing entrance. The lower ends of the louvers extend substantially to the collecting surface to minimize by-passing of the louvers by the air flow.

Claims

1. A mining maching comprising:

a body,

a driven cutter mounted on said body,

an air-cleaning system comprising duct means for conducting dust-laden air,

scrubber means for applying moisture to said dust-laden air, and

demisting means for thereafter removing moisture from the moistened air from said scrubber means, said demisting means comprising;

an in-feed duct having a floor,

an inlet opening to which wet air is delivered from said in-feed duct, and

an outlet opening located rearwardly of said inlet opening,

a plurality of upstanding louvers arranged to define passages for conducting wet air while moisture separates-out on the sides of said louvers and gravitates downwardly,

a collecting surface disposed beneath said louvers and upon which said moisture accumulates,

a moisture discharge located adjacent a rearward end of said collecting surface to remove rearwardly conducted moisture,

said collecting surface being substantially coplanar with said floor of said in-feed duct, and

a sump situated at a rearward end of said collecting surface and including a top wall defining a floor of a discharge duct communicating with said discharge opening,

said top wall disposed a substantial distance above the level of said floor of said in-feed duct.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said top wall of said sump is disposed at a level of about one-third the distance from said floor of said in-feed duct to the top of said in-feed duct.