Process and apparatus for dehumidification and VOC odor remediation

Claim 1

A process for dehumidification and VOC odor remediation of a cabin air stream withdrawn from a passenger compartment of a transportation vehicle comprising the following steps: (a) continuously passing the cabin air stream to a first portion of a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.