Adiabatic collector for recycling gas, liquefier for recycling gas, and recovery apparatus for recycling gas using same

Abstract

Disclosed is an adiabatic collector for recycling gas, a liquefier for recycling gas, and a recovery apparatus for recycling gas using the same. More specifically, gas to be recycled is collected in an adiabatic manner, cooled to a temperature lower than the dew point thereof, and stored in the liquid state through a phase change, thereby saving energy required for re-cooling the gas. Particularly, the present invention relates to an adiabatic collector for recycling gas, a liquefier for recycling gas, and a recovery apparatus for recycling gas using the same, in which recycling gas is compressed through a natural inducement method using a difference in temperature and pressure while being collected and liquefied, thereby reducing noise, vibration, and size of the collector.

1 . An adiabatic collector for recycling gas, the collector comprising:
 a buffer container that is detachably connected to a recycling gas generation line, stores the recycling gas, and buffers a pressure of the recycling gas and then discharges the recycling gas;   a first non-mechanical (NM) compressor for non-mechanically compressing the recycling gas discharged from the buffer container by using a pressure difference caused by thermal expansion of the recycling gas, and then supplying the recycling gas; and   an adiabatic gas container communicatively connected to the first NM compressor for storing the recycling gas in an adiabatic manner, wherein   the adiabatic gas container includes:   a gas tank providing a storage space for storing the recycling gas by being communicatively connected to the first NM compressor, and being provided with a discharge valve so as to discharge the stored recycling gas;   a first vacuum jacket forming a vacuum space along an outer surface of the gas tank;   a refrigerant jacket forming a cooling space along an outer surface of the first vacuum jacket so as to allow refrigerant to flow through the refrigerant jacket;   a second vacuum jacket forming a vacuum space along an outer surface of the refrigerant jacket; and   a vacuum pump communicatively connected both to the gas tank and to the first and second vacuum jackets so as to respectively create a vacuum in the storage space of the gas tank and in each of the vacuum jackets.   
     
     
         2 . The adiabatic collector for recycling gas of  claim 1 , wherein the adiabatic gas container further includes:
 an intake valve for cooling the first vacuum jacket by using the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant jacket by supplying the first vacuum jacket with air or with the refrigerant in a state where the intake valve penetrates through both the second vacuum jacket and the refrigerant jacket.   
     
     
         3 . The adiabatic collector for recycling gas of  claim 1 , wherein the adiabatic gas container further includes:
 a pressure sensor for sensing an internal pressure of the storage space of the gas tank; and   a safety valve communicatively connected to the gas tank, configured to be opened by a sensing signal of the pressure sensor, and discharging the recycling gas from the storage space to an outside.   
     
     
         4 . The adiabatic collector for recycling gas of  claim 1 , wherein the first NM compressor includes:
 an expansion chamber that is supplied with the recycling gas discharged from the buffer container, changes the supplied recycling gas into high pressure recycling gas by supplying thermal energy thereto, and provides an expansion space for the recycling gas;   a discharge valve openably provided in an outlet of the expansion chamber so as to be connected to the adiabatic gas container, and discharging the high pressure recycling gas into the adiabatic gas container by using the pressure difference as the recycling gas in the expansion chamber expands to have a high pressure; and   an inflow valve openably provided in an inlet of the expansion chamber so as to be connected to the buffer container, wherein the inflow valve is configured such that as the high pressure recycling gas is discharged through the discharge valve, an internal pressure of the expansion chamber is changed into a low pressure, thereby allowing the recycling gas in the buffer container to flow into the expansion chamber by using the pressure difference.   
     
     
         5 . A liquefier for recycling gas, the liquefier comprising:
 a second non-mechanical (NM) compressor supplied with recycling gas in an adiabatic state, non-mechanically compressing the recycling gas by using a pressure difference caused by thermal expansion of the recycling gas, and then supplying the recycling gas;   a container-shaped dewar being communicatively connected to the second NM compressor, providing a storage space for storing the recycling gas in a liquid state, and having an opening provided at a side of the dewar so as to discharge the recycling gas in the liquid state through the opening;   a cold finger provided in the storage space by protruding after penetrating the dewar, and liquefying the recycling gas by coming into contact with the recycling gas supplied from the second NM compressor in a cryogenic state;   a refrigerator for cooling the cold finger into a cryogenic state;   a compressor for supplying refrigerant to the refrigerator; and   a chiller for cooling the compressor, wherein   the second NM compressor includes:   an expansion chamber supplied with the recycling gas in the adiabatic state, changing the supplied recycling gas into high pressure recycling gas by supplying thermal energy thereto, and providing an expansion space for the recycling gas;   a discharge valve openably provided in an outlet of the expansion chamber so as to be connected to the dewar, and discharging the high pressure recycling gas into the dewar by using the pressure difference as the recycling gas in the expansion chamber expands to have a high pressure; and   an inflow valve openably provided in an inlet of the expansion chamber so as to allow the recycling gas to flow into the expansion chamber, wherein the inflow valve is configured such that as the high pressure recycling gas is discharged through the discharge valve and an internal pressure of the expansion chamber is changed into a low pressure, thereby allowing the recycling gas in the buffer container to flow into the expansion chamber by using the pressure difference.   
     
     
         6 . The liquefier for recycling gas of  claim 5 , wherein the dewar includes:
 a liquefying tank forming the storage space;   a first vacuum jacket forming a vacuum space along an outer surface of the liquefying tank so as to prevent heat loss from the liquefying tank;   a refrigerant jacket forming a cooling space along an outer surface of the first vacuum jacket so as to allow refrigerant to flow through the refrigerant jacket; and   a second vacuum jacket forming a vacuum space along an outer surface of the refrigerant jacket so as to prevent heat loss from the refrigerant jacket.   
     
     
         7 . The liquefier for recycling gas of  claim 6 , wherein the dewar further includes:
 a purification jacket forming a flow passage between the refrigerant jacket and the second vacuum jacket, wherein the purification jacket is configured such that a first end thereof communicates with the second NM compressor and a second end thereof communicates with the liquefying tank; and the purification jacket pre-cools the recycling gas by using cold of the refrigerant jacket while detouring the recycling gas in the second NM compressor along the outer surface of the refrigerant jacket, and condenses impurities in the recycling gas.   
     
     
         8 . The liquefier for recycling gas of  claim 7 , wherein the dewar further includes:
 a drain valve provided at a lower portion of the purification jacket so as to drain the impurities condensed by the cold of the refrigerant jacket.   
     
     
         9 . The liquefier for recycling gas of  claim 7 , wherein the dewar further includes:
 a refrigerant supply line for cooling the expansion chamber to a low temperature by supplying a part of the refrigerant flowing out from the refrigerant jacket in a state of being processed by heat exchange between the refrigerant and the recycling gas flowing through the purification jacket, along an outer surface of the expansion chamber of the second NM compressor.   
     
     
         10 . The liquefier for recycling gas of  claim 9 , wherein the dewar further includes:
 a compressor cooling line for cooling the compressor by using the refrigerant by supplying the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant supply line after cooling the expansion chamber, to the compressor.   
     
     
         11 . The liquefier for recycling gas of  claim 10 , wherein the dewar further includes:
 a selector provided in the refrigerant supply line, wherein the selector supplies the refrigerant at a low temperature discharged from the refrigerant jacket to the expansion chamber or supplies the refrigerant at a high temperature discharged from the compressor cooling line to the expansion chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The liquefier for recycling gas of  claim 11 , wherein the selector includes:
 a three-way valve openably provided in the refrigerant supply line, wherein the three-way valve cools the expansion chamber by communicating the refrigerant jacket with the outer surface of the expansion chamber, or heats the expansion chamber by communicating the compressor cooling line with the outer surface of the expansion chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The liquefier for recycling gas of  claim 6 , wherein the dewar further includes:
 a transfer line inserted into the storage space of the liquefying tank through the opening and discharging the recycling gas in the liquid state stored in the liquefying tank to outside; and   a contact-type precooler being in contact with the refrigerant jacket at a first end thereof, and being in contact with the transfer line at a second end thereof by protruding in the storage space, thereby pre-cooling the transfer line by using cold of the refrigerant jacket.   
     
     
         14 . A recovery apparatus for recycling gas, the apparatus comprising:
 the adiabatic collector configured according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , and collecting recycling gas generated from the recycling gas-generation line in an adiabatic manner; and   the liquefier configured according to any one of  claims 5  to  13 , detachably connected to the adiabatic collector, and non-mechanically compressing the recycling gas supplied from the adiabatic collector and liquefying the recycling gas into a liquid state.   
     
     
         15 . The recovery apparatus for recycling gas of  claim 14 , wherein the adiabatic collector and the liquefier are configured to be individually carried by being mounted to respective movable carriers, and to be detachably connected to each other.