Automatic dehydrating breather apparatus and method

Abstract

A dehydrator breather is provided that includes automatic purging of accumulated moisture by detecting absorbed moisture in the breather, and closing an intake air channel, while opening an exit moisture channel. Adjustment of a default time-based purging cycle is adjusted to account for fluctuations in the detected moisture. An external communication capability is provided to enable off-site monitoring of the breather or the tank the breather is attached to.

1. A dehydrating breather apparatus, for dehydrating air in a container comprising:
 a vessel body;  
 an automatically closeable air flow passage in the vessel body coupled to the container;  
 a valve housing, said valve housing coupled to the vessel body and secured with a mounting mechanism;  
 a seal positioned between the valve housing and the vessel body;  
 a floating ball valve positioned within the valve housing, said floating ball valve comprising a first width that accommodates a floating ball and a second width that is narrower than the first width to prevent passage of the floating ball;  
 a vent assembly, said vent assembly coupled to the valve housing and comprising: 
 a vent assembly body;  
 sintered bronze vents for trapping desiccant particles;  
 at least one screened port, said screened port disposed along a vertical axis of the vent assembly body;  
 
 a desiccant contained within the vessel body;  
 an electrically controlled heating element housed in the vessel body;  
 a drain in the vessel body; and  
 a moisture sensor in the desiccant.  
 
     
     
       2. The dehydrating breather apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a moisture sensor in the container.  
 
     
     
       3. The dehydrating breather of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control unit to control an automatic closing and opening of the airflow passage and the drains and heating of the heating element.  
 
     
     
       4. The dehydrating breather of  claim 3 , wherein the control unit is coupled to the moisture sensor. 
     
     
       5. The dehydrating breather apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the control unit comprises:
 a humidity controller;  
 a relay controller; and  
 a communications controller coupled to the humidity sensor controller.  
 
     
     
       6. The dehydrating breather apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a timer controller coupled to the humidity controller and to the relay controller.  
 
     
     
       7. The dehydrating breather of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dielectric property sensor in the vessel body.  
 
     
     
       8. A dehydrating breather apparatus for dehydrating air in a container, comprising:
 a dehydrating means for absorbing moisture in the air and expelling moisture;  
 an air flow means for channeling air in the container between the container and the dehydrating means;  
 an exit means for channeling expelled moisture;  
 an automatic airflow blocking means for blocking channeled air in the airflow means;  
 an automatic exit blocking means for blocking the expelled moisture in the exit means, wherein the automatic exit blocking means comprises a first width that is wider than a second width;  
 a housing means for housing the automatic exit blocking means;  
 a seal means for sealing the automatic exit blocking means;  
 a trapping means for trapping desiccant particles;  
 a heating means in the dehydrating means for heating for causing the absorbed moisture to be released from the dehydrating means;  
 a moisture sensing means in the air of the container for sensing moisture; and  
 a control means for controlling the heating means and the airflow blocking means and the exit blocking means.  
 
     
     
       9. The dehydrating breather of  claim 8 , wherein the control means comprises:
 a moisture response means for responding to the moisture sensing means;  
 a timer means for cycling of time periods and durations;  
 a switch means for controlling power to the blocking means and the heating means.  
 
     
     
       10. The dehydrating breather of  claim 9 , wherein the control means further comprises:
 a communication means for communicating information to an external device, wherein the communication means initiates or inhibits a regeneration cycle.  
 
     
     
       11. The dehydrating breather of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second moisture sensing means in the dehydrating means for sensing moisture.  
 
     
     
       12. A dehydrating system, comprising:
 a tank with air enclosed therein;  
 a vessel body;  
 an automatically closeable airflow passage in the vessel body coupled to the tank;  
 a valve housing, said valve housing coupled to the vessel body and secured with a mounting mechanism;  
 a seal positioned between the valve housing and the vessel body;  
 a floating ball valve positioned within the valve housing, said floating ball valve comprising a first width that accommodates a floating ball and a second width that is narrower than the first width to prevent passage of the floating ball;  
 a vent assembly, said vent assembly coupled to the valve housing and comprising: 
 a vent assembly body;  
 sintered bronze vents for trapping desiccant particles;  
 at least one screened port, said screened port disposed along a vertical axis of the vent assembly body;  
 
 desiccant contained within the vessel body;  
 an electrically controlled heating element housed in the vessel body;  
 an automatically closeable drain in the vessel body; and  
 a moisture sensor in the desiccant.  
 
     
     
       13. The dehydrating system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a moisture sensor in the tank.  
 
     
     
       14. A method for dehydrating air in a container, comprising:
 attaching a vessel body with desiccant to an air channel connected to the container;  
 coupling a valve housing to the vessel body, the valve housing secured with a mounting mechanism;  
 positioning a seal between the valve housing and the vessel body;  
 positioning a floating ball valve within the valve housing, the floating ball valve comprising a first width that accommodates a floating ball and a second width that is narrower than the first width to prevent passage of the floating ball;  
 coupling a vent assembly to the valve housing, the vent assembly comprising: 
 a vent assembly body;  
 sintered bronze vents for trapping desiccant particles;  
 at least one screened port, said screened port disposed along a vertical axis of the vent assembly body;  
 
 monitoring a humidity of the desiccant;  
 purging moisture from the desiccant by heating the desiccant;  
 disposing of the purged moisture by closing the air channel and opening an exit port on a bottom of the housing.  
 
     
     
       15. The method for dehydrating of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 adjusting a period of purging based on a level of humidity monitored in the desiccant.  
 
     
     
       16. The method for dehydrating of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 communicating information to an external system.  
 
     
     
       17. A dehydrating breather for a transformer tank, comprising:
   a vessel;        a desiccant container, including desiccant and a heater, disposed within the vessel;        a detachable vent assembly, including at least one screened port, to retain loosened desiccant and to drain purged moisture; and        means for preventing reintroduction of moisture from the vessel to the tank during a heating cycle.     
     
     
       18. The dehydrating breather according to  claim 17 , further comprising a sensor to determine when to begin the heating cycle. 
     
     
       19. The dehydrating breather according to  claim 17 , wherein the air flows from the vessel to the atmosphere during the heating cycle. 
     
     
       20. The dehydrating breather according to  claim 19 , wherein prior to, or coincident with, initiation of the heating cycle, the means for preventing reintroduction of moisture ensures that air is not flowing from the vessel to the tank. 
     
     
       21. The dehydrating breather according to  claim 20 , wherein the means for preventing reintroduction of moisture prevents air flow from the vessel to the tank during the heating cycle. 
     
     
       22. The dehydrating breather according to  claim 21 , wherein the means for preventing reintroduction of moisture includes a solenoid- controlled valve disposed between the vessel and the tank.   
     
     
       23. A method for regulating moisture within a dehydrating breather coupled to a transformer tank, comprising:
   removing moisture from incoming air with a desiccant;        heating the desiccant to purge the absorbed moisture;        draining the purged moisture through a detachable vent assembly that includes at least one screened port;        retaining loosened desiccant in the detachable vent assembly; and        preventing reintroduction of moisture from the dehydrating breather to the tank by heating the desiccant only when air is not flowing to the tank.     
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said heating the desiccant is based on a sensor measurement. 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the sensor measurement is a humidity level. 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the humidity level is measured by a sensor disposed within the dehydrating breather. 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the humidity level is measured by a sensor disposed within the tank. 
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said preventing reintroduction of moisture includes closing a solenoid- operated valve, disposed between the dehydrating breather and the tank, to prevent air from flowing to the tank.   
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the solenoid- operated valve is closed prior to, or coincident with, heating the desiccant.   
     
     
       30. A dehydrating breather for a transformer tank, comprising:
   a vessel;        a desiccant container, including desiccant and a heater, disposed within the vessel;        a detachable vent assembly, including at least one screened port, to retain loosened desiccant and to drain purged moisture; and        a device to prevent reintroduction of moisture from the vessel to the tank during a heating cycle.