US4094652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrodesorption system for regenerating a dielectric adsorbent bed
Assignee: WR Grace and Co
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Filing: 1977-02-15
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Granted: 1978-06-13
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Expires: 1997-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A drying system wherein fluid is contacted with a bed of dielectric absorbent particles, preferably zeolite molecular sieve particles, to sorb an adsorbable component such as water, from the fluid. The improved system includes means for reactivating the moisture saturated bed by directly applying to the zeolite particles a high voltage electrical field having sufficient potential gradient (e.g., 0.2 to 500 Kv/cm) to separate substantially all of the sorbed moisture as molecular water. Direct current or low frequency (0-10 3 H z ) is employed. In the preferred embodiments the molecular sieve bed comprises synthetic crystalline metal alumino silicate zeolite particles such as powder having an average particle size of about 1 μ to 10 μ or larger 4 to 12 mesh bonded particles (e.g. 1000 μ to 5000 μ). The electro-desorption process is advantageous in that the amount of time and energy consumed in regenerating the bed is less than that required for conventional regeneration procedures.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Eugene Lowther
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:29
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A drying system comprising a molecular sieve porous bed of synthetic crystalline metal alumino silicate material having an average particle size of about 1 μ to 100 μ, said alumino silicate material consisting essentially of at least one zeolite selected from the group consisting of Type A, Type L, Type X, Type Y and mixtures of said zeolite with one another; means for contacting the bed in a drying chamber with a fluid to be dried; means for regenerating the bed including means for applying a 0-10 3 Hz frequency electrical field of at least 0.2 Kv/cm across the bed directly through the zeolite particles to maintain a current density during regeneration of about 0.01 to 100 microamps/cm 2 ; and means for removing water from the bed during regeneration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A drying system comprising a molecular sieve porous bed of synthetic crystalline metal alumino silicate material having an average particle size of about 1 μ to 100 μ, said alumino silicate material consisting essentially of at least one zeolite selected from the group consisting of Type A, Type L, Type X, Type Y and mixtures of said zeolite with one another; means for contacting the bed in a drying chamber with a fluid to be dried; means for regenerating the bed including means for applying a 0-10 3 Hz frequency electrical field of at least 0.2 Kv/cm across the bed directly through the zeolite particles to maintain a current density during regeneration of about 0.01 to 100 microamps/cm 2 ; and means for removing water from the bed during regeneration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a drying system according to claim 1, said drying chamber comprising a closed vessel having spaced electrodes disposed therein at peripheral portions of the bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a drying system according to claim 2, said spaced electrodes being disposed at opposite ends of the bed adjacent to gas inlet and outlet means whereby electrical current flows parallel to the normal gas flow direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a drying system according to claim 1, means for interrupting gas flow through the drying chamber during regeneration, and means for removing water vapor from the drying chamber during regeneration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a gas drying system wherein moisture-containing gas is contacted with a bed of zeolite molecular sieve particles to sorb water from the gas, the improvement which comprises: means for reactivating the moisture containing bed by directly applying to the zeolite particles a high voltage low frequency electrical field having sufficient potential gradient to separate substantially all of the sorbed moisture as molecular water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a gas drying system wherein moisture-containing gas is contacted with a bed of zeolite molecular sieve particles to sorb water from the gas, the improvement which comprises: means for reactivating the moisture containing bed by directly applying to the zeolite particles a high voltage low frequency electrical field having sufficient potential gradient to separate substantially all of the sorbed moisture as molecular water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a drying system according to claim 5, said bed comprising zeolite particles having an average particle size of about 1 μ to 100 μ, and further having means for applying a potential gradient of about 0.2 to 10 Kv/cm at a frequency from DC to about 10 3 H z .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a drying system according to claim 6, said bed comprising zeolite particles having an average particle size of about 5 μ to 10 μ, and means for maintaining a substantially constant regeneration current density through the bed of about 0.01 to 100 microamps/cm 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electro-desorption process for removing sorbed gas from a molecular sieve comprising confining molecular sieve particles loaded with sorbed gas between electrodes; applying an electro-desorption potential having a frequency of 0 to 1000 Hz between the electrodes; and separating desorbed gas from the molecular sieve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electro-desorption process for removing sorbed gas from a molecular sieve comprising confining molecular sieve particles loaded with sorbed gas between electrodes; applying an electro-desorption potential having a frequency of 0 to 1000 Hz between the electrodes; and separating desorbed gas from the molecular sieve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the molecular sieve consists essentially of synthetic crystalline alkali metal alumino silicate of the faujasite type having a particle size of at least about 1 μ.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the amount of electrical energy consumed in regenerating the bed is slightly greater than the caloric equivalent to the heat of vaporization the water removed from the bed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 8 wherein low frequency AC electrical power is applied between the electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the frequency is about 60 Hz.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
A fluid drying system comprising a vessel having fluid inlet and outlet means; a bed of dielectric absorbent particles in the vessel; means for circulating moist fluid in contact with the absorbent; means for interrupting flow of moist fluid to the vessel; a plurality of spaced apart electrodes in direct contact with the absorbent particles; a source of high voltage low frequency electrical power; a saturable core reactor current limiting device operatively connected to the power source and the electrodes comprising means for controlling a substantially constant current between the electrodes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A fluid drying system comprising a vessel having fluid inlet and outlet means; a bed of dielectric absorbent particles in the vessel; means for circulating moist fluid in contact with the absorbent; means for interrupting flow of moist fluid to the vessel; a plurality of spaced apart electrodes in direct contact with the absorbent particles; a source of high voltage low frequency electrical power; a saturable core reactor current limiting device operatively connected to the power source and the electrodes comprising means for controlling a substantially constant current between the electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the average particle size of said zeolite is 1 to 5000 microns.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said means for reactivating the moisture containing bed involves means for applying a potential gradient of 0.2 to 500 Kv/cm, a current density of 0.001 microamps/cm 2 to 1 amp/cm 2 , at frequency of 0-10 3 Hz.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said means for reactivating the moisture containing bed includes means for applying a potential gradient of 0.5 to 2 Kv/cm, a current density of 1 to 10 microamps/cm 2 at a frequency of 0-60 Hz.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said molecular sieve has an average particle size of 1 to 5000 microns.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the electro-desorption potential is applied at a potential gradient of 0.2 to 500 Kv/cm, a current density of 0.001 microamps/cm 2 to 1 amp/cm 2 , and a frequency of 0 to 10 3 Hz.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the electro-desorption potential is applied at a potential gradient of 0.5 to 2 Kv/cm, a current density of 1 to 10 microamps/cm 2 at a frequency of 0 to 60 Hz.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said dielectric absorbent particles have a particle size of 1 to 5000 microns.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said source of electrical power provides a potential gradient of 0.2 to 500 Kv/cm, a current density of 0.001 microamps/cm 2 to 1 amp/cm 2 at a frequency of 0 to 103 Hz between said electrodes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said source of electrical power provides a potential gradient of 0.5 to 2 Kv/cm, a current density of 1 to 10 microamps/cm 2 at a frequency of 0-60 Hz between said electrodes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electro-desorption process for removing sorbed gas from a bed of dielectric absorbent particles comprising: (a) confining dielectric absorbent particles loaded with sorbed gas between electrodes; (b) applying an electro-desorption potential having a frequency of 0 to 1000 Hz between the electrodes; and (c) separating desorbed gas from the dielectric absorbent particles.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electro-desorption process for removing sorbed gas from a bed of dielectric absorbent particles comprising: (a) confining dielectric absorbent particles loaded with sorbed gas between electrodes; (b) applying an electro-desorption potential having a frequency of 0 to 1000 Hz between the electrodes; and (c) separating desorbed gas from the dielectric absorbent particles.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said particles have an average particle size of 1 to 5000 microns.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said electro-desorption potential is applied with a potential gradient of 0.2 to 500 Kv/am, and a current density of 0.001 microamps/cm 2 to 1 amp/cm 2 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said electro-desorption potential is applied with a potential gradient of 0.5 to 2 Kv/cm, and a current density of 1 to 10 microamps/cm 2 at a frequency of 0 to 60 Hz.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
67 words
A drying system comprising: (a) A porous bed of dielectric absorbent particles; (b) means for contacting the bed in a drying chamber with a fluid to be dried; (c) means for regenerating the bed including means for applying an electro-desorption potential through said bed, said potential being applied at a frequency of 0 to 1000 Hz/ and (d) means for removing water from the bed during regeneration.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
67 words
A drying system comprising: (a) A porous bed of dielectric absorbent particles; (b) means for contacting the bed in a drying chamber with a fluid to be dried; (c) means for regenerating the bed including means for applying an electro-desorption potential through said bed, said potential being applied at a frequency of 0 to 1000 Hz/ and (d) means for removing water from the bed during regeneration.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said potential is applied with a potential gradient of 0.2 to 500 Kv/cm, and a current density of 0.001 microamps/cm 2 to 1 amp/cm 2 at a frequency of 0 to 60 Hz.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said particles have an average particle size of 1 to 5000 microns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-12 | 1981-12-12 | 1982-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-12 | 1985-12-12 | 1986-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-12 | 1989-12-12 | 1990-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |