Process and apparatus for dehumidification and VOC odor remediation
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorStephen R. Dunne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process and apparatus for the dehumidification and VOC odor remediation of an air stream withdrawn from the passenger compartment of a transportation vehicle is disclosed which employs a continuously rotating wheel support and adsorbent selective for the adsorption of water and VOCs. The wheel is coated with zeolite adsorbent selected from the group consisting of zeolite Y-74, zeolite Y-84, zeolite Y-85, a low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-84, a rare earth exchanged zeolite LZ-210 and mixtures thereof. A surprisingly significant increase in the thermal efficiency is possible as a result of the lower regeneration temperature of the adsorbent and the use of novel process steps.
Claims23
A process for dehumidification and VOC odor remediation of a cabin air stream withdrawn from a passenger compartment of a transportation vehicle comprising the following steps:
- (a) continuously passing the cabin air stream to a first portion of a face area of an adsorbent wheel, said wheel supporting a solid adsorbent selected from the group consisting of zeolite Y-74, zeolite Y-84, zeolite Y-85, a low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-84, a rare earth exchanged zeolite LZ-210, and mixtures thereof said solid adsorbent being selective for the adsorption of water and VOCs to adsorb water and VOCs at an adsorption temperature and permitting the passage of said cabin air stream therethrough to provide a conditioned air stream;
- (b) passing at least a portion of said conditioned air stream to a second portion of said adsorbent wheel in a direction countercurrent to the passing of said cabin air stream in step (a) to cool said second portion of said adsorbent wheel and provide an intermediate air stream;
- (c) heating said intermediate air stream to a regeneration temperature to provide a heated intermediate air stream;
- (d) passing said heated intermediate stream in a direction cocurrent to said air stream in step (a) to a third portion of said adsorbent wheel to desorb said water and VOCs, forming an exhaust stream, and exhausting said stream;
- and
- (e) returning at least a portion of said conditioned air stream to the passenger compartment.
A process for the dehumidification and VOC odor remediation of a cabin air stream withdrawn from a passenger compartment of an automobile comprising the following steps:
- (a) passing the cabin air stream through a first portion of a continuously rotating adsorbent wheel, said wheel supporting a solid adsorbent selective for the adsorption of water and VOCs, said adsorbent selected from the group consisting of zeolite Y-74, zeolite Y-84, zeolite Y-85, a low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-84, a rare earth exchanged zeolite LZ-210, and mixtures thereof to provide a conditioned air stream;
- (b) passing a cooling air stream through a second portion of said wheel to a cool said second portion and to provide an intermediate air stream;
- (c) heating said intermediate air stream to provide a heated air stream and passing said heated air stream to a third portion of said wheel to desorb said water and VOCs from said adsorbent and provide an exhaust stream;
- and
- (d) cooling said conditioned air stream to provide a cooled air stream and returning at least a portion of said cooled air stream to said passenger compartment.
A process for dehumidification of an air stream comprising:
- (a) contacting the air stream with a solid adsorbent selected from the group consisting of zeolite Y-74, zeolite Y-84, low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-84, zeolite Y-85, rare earth exchanged zeolite LZ-210 and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (b) regenerating said solid adsorbent by contacting said solid adsorbent with a heated gas stream at a regeneration temperature.
An improved adsorbent wheel for the dehumidification and VOC odor remediation of an air stream comprising:
- a substrate surface formed into a rotatable wheel having axially parallel apertures therethrough said substrate surface having a coating of a selective adsorbent for the adsorption of water and VOCs, said selective adsorbent selected from the group consisting of a zeolite Y-74, zeolite Y-84, a zeolite Y-85, a low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-84, a rare earth exchanged zeolite LZ-210 and mixtures thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.