Apparatus for recovering solvent from solvent laden process air streams

Claim 1

Apparatus for removing solvent vapor from a process air stream, comprising: (a) at least a first tank provided with a bed of material capable of adsorbing solvent from the process air stream flowing through it in an adsorbing mode; (b) inlet duct means for directing the process air into the tank at one side of the bed; (c) outlet duct means communicating with the other side of the bed for directing process air flowing through the bed out of the tank; (d) means for closing the inlet and outlet duct means to stop the flow of process air into and out of the tank, terminating the adsorbing mode; (e) first means for directing a gaseous flow medium into the tank through the bed, said gaseous flow medium having the characteristic of desorbing solvent from the bed in a regenerating mode; (f) condenser means connected to said at least first tank to receive said gaseous flow medium and solvent vapor desorbed by the medium for condensing said solvent vapor and/or medium into solvent and water condensates, respectively; (g) separator means, connected to the condenser means through a first outlet formed in a bottom region of the condenser means where condensates collect, for receiving and storing said condensates from the condenser means; and (h) means, connected to the condenser means through at least one outlet in the condenser means located above the bottom portion, for directing residual solvent vapor and water and condensate entrained therewith out of the condenser means and along a flow path provided with a chamber of greater cross-sectional area than the flow path, in which chamber said solvent vapor and air are separated from the entrained condensates, said chamber including an air outlet in an upper portion thereof through which the air and vapor exit the chamber, and a liquid outlet in a bottom portion thereof through which separated liquid is discharged from the chamber.