Abstract: Disclosed are improved recirculating sorption bed systems, e.g., rotary beds, of the type consisting of a mass of sorbent material in which one section is in sorption duty while another section is being regenerated thermally. The sorption beds may be operated to reduce heat consumption while simultaneously producing a more sorbate-free product by utilizing sensible heat added to the bed during regeneration to supply a portion of the heat or desorption required to reactivate the bed. In one embodiment, the bed system features a recirculation loop which circulates fluid between a pair of regions interposed between the edge of the sorption duty and regeneration regions.

Abstract: A system for the sorption treatment of fluids comprises a sorption vessel having an exterior wall, a fluid feed entrance, a fluid product exit, and an internally-disposed sorbent material bed. The system further includes an element for determining a thermal characteristic of the sorbent bed, which element comprises a sensing element for generating a signal indicative of a temperature of the sorbent vessel exterior wall, and control means for processing that temperature-representative signal. The system further comprises an output element for generating a signal indicative of the particular thermal characteristic. The system has application in improving the efficiency of adsorption vessels, solids drying apparatus, and like devices. Moreover, the system may be utilized as a diagnostic device for such apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for drying granular solids. A heated gas stream is directed through the volume of solids followed by a cooling gas stream. The method varies from conventional drying techniques by the alteration of the timing of the introduction of the cooling stream and by the use of sensible heat contained in the solids to supply heat of vaporization. The method yields improved energy efficiency and shorter drying times. The apparatus exhibits improved efficiency in carrying out the method of the invention than is possible using conventional equipment.

Abstract: Disclosed are sorption bed systems and methods of operating sorption bed systems of the type used to remove and recover plural dilute species from a fluid stream. The system comprises a main bed which is loaded during sorption duty, and a sorbate recovery, main bed-regeneration apparatus comprising a second sorption bed for separating the dilute sorbates, a sorbate collecting device such as a condenser, and optionally, when regeneration and sorbate recovery is conducted in a recirculating fluid mode, a third sorption bed downstream of the sorbate collecting device for improving the yield of sorbate recovery. Practice of the invention is characterized by a significantly reduced heat consumption and the collection of sorbate fractions of improved purity.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved recirculating sorption bed systems of the type in which one sorption bed is in sorption duty while another is being regenerated thermally by a recirculating regeneration loop. The regeneration loop includes a cooler/condenser, a heater, and a tertiary sorption bed. The tertiary bed takes up sorbate from the coolant stream that may contain sorbate as a result of operating the system with the Four Front Method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,564. In some embodiments, the cooler/condenser is of the type which cools and removes sorbate from the recirculating regenerant stream by direct contact between a cooling fluid and the effluent. In other embodiments, the cooler/condenser retains condensed sorbate. In still other embodiments, the effect of the tertiary bed is improved by providing means for bypassing the bed with a portion of the stream from the heater, or by incorporating the heater into the tertiary bed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating adsorption beds of the type which are regenerable with heat and a bed which exploits the method. By altering the timing of the beginning and termination of the adsorption stage, the regeneration stage, and the cooling stage, it is possible to significantly reduce energy consumption, increase the throughput of the bed, provide greater security against breakthrough, produce a more adsorbate-free product, or attain certain combinations of these advantages.