Abstract: A system for providing cooled compressed air free of entrained moisture. A housing surrounds a heat exchanger and has an inlet for passage of hot compressed air into an input plenum of the housing and an outlet plenum having an outlet for the cooled and dried compressed air. The bottom of the output plenum extends below the bottom of the heat exchanger to form a trough which collects condensate that collects on the plates of the heat exchanger, flows to the bottom of the heat exchanger, and is pushed by the flow of the compressed air to the output plenum. A shield is placed between the outlet and the heat exchanger to prevent condensate spewed from the plates of the heat exchanger from passing directly across the outlet opening or directly into the outlet opening.

Abstract: A precooler/chiller/reheater (PCR) system comprising a precooler/reheater counterflow heat exchanger and a chiller counterflow heat exchanger separated by a moisture removal section. Refrigerant is flashed through a perforated distribution manifold along the plates of the chiller. Warm, moist air is precooled in the precooler/reheater heat exchanger. A manifold conveys the precooled air to the chiller heat exchanger. Chilled air exits the chiller at a low point in the system. Moisture condensed in the precooler and chiller drains into a sump that also acts to convey air into the moisture removal section. Water droplets are stripped from the airflow and drain downwards into the sump. The chilled and dried air is conveyed to the second side of the precooler/reheater heat exchanger and passes downward in counterflow to the direction of air entering the system on the first side of the heat exchanger, then exits the system ready for use as reheated, dried air.