Cyclic adsorption process

An improved cyclic adsorption process comprising:

• passing a fluid stream containing an adsorbate to be removed therefrom through an adsorption zone and then through a heat storage zone, said adsorption zone containing an adsorbant and heat capacity material, said heat capacity material being present in an amount sufficient to provide a temperature in said adsorption zone under operating conditions which is higher than the temperature that otherwise would exist in said adsorption zone under operating conditions;
• regenerating said adsorbent by passing a regeneration stream through said heat storage zone and then through said adsorption zone whereby said regeneration stream is heated in said heat storage zone;
• and
• adding an incremental amount of heat to said regeneration stream at a point between said heat storage zone and said adsorption zone, said incremental amount of heat being sufficient to raise the temperature of said regeneration stream to a point sufficient for removing said adsorbate from said adsorbent in said adsorption zone whereby said adsorbent is regenerated.

An improved cyclic adsorption process comprising:

• passing a fluid stream containing a solute to be removed therefrom through an adsorption zone and then through a heat storage zone whereby a heat transfer front and a mass transfer front are generated and progress through said adsorption zone and said heat storage zone, said adsorption zone containing an adsorbent and a heat capacity material, said adsorbent and said heat capacity material being present in a weight ratio sufficient to provide for a rate of progression of said heat transfer front through said adsorption zone which is substantially equal to the rate of progression of said mass transfer front through said adsorption zone;
• regenerating said adsorbent by passing a regeneration stream through said heat storage zone and then through said adsorption zone, whereby said regenerating stream is heated in said heat storage zone;
• and
• promoting desorption of said adsorbent by the technique selected from
• (a) adding an incremental amount of heat to said regeneration stream at a point between said heat storage zone and said adsorption zone, said incremental amount of heat being sufficient to raise the temperature of said regeneration stream to a point sufficient for removing said solute from said adsorbent in said adsorption zone;
• (b) decreasing the pressure of said adsorbent zone in an amount sufficient to remove solute from said adsorbent:
• and (c) adding an incremental amount of heat to said regeneration stream and reducing said pressure in said adsorption zone in combined amounts sufficient to remove solute from said adsorbent whereby said adsorbent is regenerated.

A desiccant cooling process including the steps of:

• passing ambient air through a desiccant zone to produce relatively dry air, said desiccant zone containing a silica gel and heat capacity material therein, the ratio of said heat capacity material per pound of desiccant being such that the mass of heat capacity material times its heat capacity is in the range of from about 0.2 to about 6.0 Btu/.degree.F;
• passing said relatively dry air through a heat storage zone to produce relatively cool dry air for use in an enclosed conditioned space;
• withdrawing a stream of exhaust air from said conditioned space through an evaporative pad whereby said exhaust air is cooled;
• passing said cooled exhaust air stream through said heat storage zone whereby said heat storage zone is cooled when said exhaust air is heated;
• adding additional heat to said exhaust gas by heating means;
• passing said heated exhaust air through said adsorption zone, whereby said adsorbent is regenerated.