Apparatus for sorption filters and method for operating them

Claim 1

Apparatus for the adsorption in sorption filters of vaporous or gaseous impurities from a stream of air or gas and for the desorption of the impurities by an inert gas after the filter is charged to a predetermined level, which comprises a sorption filter, a container surrounding said sorption filter, an outer jacket around said container, an annular gap between said container and said outer jacket through which coolant flows, an inlet conduit extending through said outer jacket, said gap and said container for the introduction of said stream of air or gas containing impurities for passage to one side of said filter permitting said air or gas to pass therethrough and charge said filter to a predetermined level, an outlet conduit extending through said container, said gap and said outer jacket for the discharge of said air or gas passing through said filter and leaving the side of the filter opposite the side of introduction of said air or gas, gas inlet closing means on the inlet side for introduction of said air or gas containing impurities, gas outlet closing means on the discharge side of said air or gas for blocking the flow of said air or gas, a combustion chamber outside said outer jacket for generating an inert gas, an inert gas inlet conduit extending through said outer jacket, said gap and said container for introducing said inert gas through said filter in a direction of flow opposite that of said air and gas to desorb said filter, an inert gas outlet conduit extending through said container, said gap and said outer jacket for the discharge of desorbate and inert gas, a coolant inlet extending through said outer jacket into said gap for the introduction of coolant flowing through said gap, and wherein the annular-gap cooler has at least three discharge openings in said outer jacket distributed substantially uniformly at the upper end of the container.