GB398010A - Process and arrangement for the recovery of gases or vapours by means of solid adsorbent substances with recovery of heat units - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0398010/III/1> In a process for recovering gases or vapours by means of a solid adsorbent the gas mixture containing the substances to be adsorbed and recovered is passed through a non-adsorbent heat-accumulating mass and thence through the adsorbent, whereafter steam is passed in the opposite direction through the adsorbent and the heat-accumulator to expel the adsorbed substances and the adsorbent is dried by air or gas passed through the heat-accumulator and the adsorbent in the original direction. The Figure shows one arrangement of apparatus in which the heat accumulating mass A, supported by a grating 13, is arranged immediately below the adsorbent B supported on a grating 2. The mass A may comprise, for example, pieces of flint or quartz, or a block of metal or cement traversed by channels, or a tube-nest with plain or ribbed tubes, filled with solid or fluid bodies such as solutions of salts having a high heat of crystallization, diluted, saturated or supersaturated solutions, or alloys of suitable specific heat or latent heat of fusion. The mass B may comprise, for example, active carbon or granulated silica gel. In the adsorption stage the gas mixture containing the substances to be adsorbed is admitted through the opening 1 and passes through the grating 13, mass A, grating 2, mass B and grating 2<1> to a flue or suction outlet 3, the substances to be recovered being retained in the mass B. For the extraction stage the supply of the gas mixture is shut off and saturated or superheated steam is admitted through a pipe 4. This heats the mass B and carries off the adsorbed substances through the mass A to an opening 5 communicating with a condenser, separator and collecting vessel. For the drying stage the steam supply is shut off, the opening 5 is closed, and air or another drying gas is admitted through the opening 1. This passes through the masses A and B and carries off the adsorbed moisture through the flue or opening 3. The drying gas may be the original gas mixture before or after it has been freed from its adsorbable constituents. For the cooling stage the supply of cold air may be continued or the mass A may be sprayed with cold water from a pipe 7. In a modified arrangement the mass B is contained in an annular cage surrounding a vessel containing the mass A. A number of units of apparatus, each comprising an adsorbent mass and a heat-accumulator mass, may be connected in series or in parallel.