US4134743A — Desiccant apparatus and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 160 words

An improved low pressure drop, continuously regeneratable desiccant apparatus comprising a fibrous paper support material formed into a rotatable desiccant wheel having axially parallel apertures therethrough, said support material being selected from the group consisting of cellulosic fibers, glass fibers, asbestos, synthetic plastic fibers, and mixtures thereof, said support material containing a finely powdered crystalline zeolite desiccant in an amount ranging from about 1 to 90% by weight on a dry basis, means for passing air to be processed in one direction through said wheel, means for passing regenerative air through said wheel countercurrent to said air to be processed and heater means for heating a portion of said regeneration air, and means for passing a cooling stream through said desiccant wheel between said regeneration stream and the introduction of said process stream, said cooling stream passing cocurrent with said process stream and means for feeding said cooling stream into said regeneration stream between said heater and said desiccant wheel.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 160 words

An improved low pressure drop, continuously regeneratable desiccant apparatus comprising a fibrous paper support material formed into a rotatable desiccant wheel having axially parallel apertures therethrough, said support material being selected from the group consisting of cellulosic fibers, glass fibers, asbestos, synthetic plastic fibers, and mixtures thereof, said support material containing a finely powdered crystalline zeolite desiccant in an amount ranging from about 1 to 90% by weight on a dry basis, means for passing air to be processed in one direction through said wheel, means for passing regenerative air through said wheel countercurrent to said air to be processed and heater means for heating a portion of said regeneration air, and means for passing a cooling stream through said desiccant wheel between said regeneration stream and the introduction of said process stream, said cooling stream passing cocurrent with said process stream and means for feeding said cooling stream into said regeneration stream between said heater and said desiccant wheel.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1 having a heat exchanger between the dry product stream and the incoming regeneration stream.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 2 having means for dry air recycle before said heat exchanger recycling a portion of the dry product stream into the regeneration stream before said regeneration stream passes said heater.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 143 words

An improved process for drying air by a continuous, atmospheric pressure and low pressure drop process comprising the steps: continuously passing the air to be dried through an adsorbent body consisting essentially of thin sheets or layers of fibrous material containing about 10 to about 90% by weight of a finely divided crystalline molecular sieve material for a time sufficient to permit the molecular sieve material to adsorb moisture from said air to an acceptable moisture level and removing dry product air in a first phase; and regenerating said adsorbent body by continuously passing countercurrent to the drying stream through said adsorbent body in a second phase, a heated regeneration stream removing the moisture from said adsorbent body, exhausting the regeneration stream and continuously passing a cooling stream through said adsorbent body between said regeneration stream and the introduction of the process stream.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 143 words

An improved process for drying air by a continuous, atmospheric pressure and low pressure drop process comprising the steps: continuously passing the air to be dried through an adsorbent body consisting essentially of thin sheets or layers of fibrous material containing about 10 to about 90% by weight of a finely divided crystalline molecular sieve material for a time sufficient to permit the molecular sieve material to adsorb moisture from said air to an acceptable moisture level and removing dry product air in a first phase; and regenerating said adsorbent body by continuously passing countercurrent to the drying stream through said adsorbent body in a second phase, a heated regeneration stream removing the moisture from said adsorbent body, exhausting the regeneration stream and continuously passing a cooling stream through said adsorbent body between said regeneration stream and the introduction of the process stream.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 4 wherein said adsorbent body is a continuously rotating wheel.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process of claim 4 wherein said molecular sieve material is an amount of about 25 to about 90% by weight.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

The process of claim 4 wherein said dry product air is passed through a heat exchanger with the incoming regeneration stream heating said regeneration stream before it is passed through said heater.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process of claim 4 wherein said heater is an open gas flame.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

The process of claim 4 wherein it is desired to obtain dry product of less than 0.001 lb. moisture per pound of air, recycling a portion of said dry product stream to said regeneration stream prior to heating said regeneration stream.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-01-15	1982-07-17	1983-01-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-01-15	1986-07-17	1987-01-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-01-15	1990-07-17	1991-01-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Desiccant apparatus and method

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