US2053159A

US2053159A - Adsorber and system

Info

Publication number: US2053159A
Application number: US593398A
Authority: US
Inventors: Miller Ernest Baldwin
Original assignee: Davison Chemical Corp
Current assignee: Davison Chemical Corp
Priority date: 1932-02-16
Filing date: 1932-02-16
Publication date: 1936-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 1953-09-01

Description

Sept. 1, 1936. E, B MlLLER 2,053,159

ADSORBER AND SYSTEM Filed Feb. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l affair a; a 45j Cad/er Sept. l, 1936.

E'. B. MILLER ADSORBER AND SYSTEM Filed Feb. 1e, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 1, 1936. 4 E B, MlLLER 2,053,159

ADSORBER AND SYSTEM Filed Feb. 16, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 i LA ff' Sept. l, 1936. E, B. MILLER ADSORBER AND SYSTEM Filed Feb. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Poiooiod sept'. 1, 1936 i 2,053,159

UNITED STATES4 PATENT OFFICE ADSORBER AND SYSTEM Ernest Baldwin Miller, Baltimore, Md., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to The Davison Chemical Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corpora.- tion of Maryland Apoliooiloo Foti-nary 1s, 1932. soriol No. 593,398 f 17 claims. (ci. 18s-4s) This invention relates to adsorption systems which connect stationary and movable parts of and apparatus therefor. EBS passages.

It is a general object of the present invention Other and further features and objects o! the to provide novel and improved adsorption sysinvention. will be more apparent to those skilled 5 tems and adsorber apparatus. in the art upon a consideration of the accom- 5 More' particularly, it is an object of the invenpanyflg drawings and f0110Wing SpeClwtiOnS. tion to provide an adsorb'er of the continuous or wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodirotary type wherein there is a minimum heat loss, ment 0f the invention. with the understanding. resulting in maximum eiciency, .brought about however.- that such modications, variations and w by maintaining portions of the gases being treat- Changes may be made therein as fall within the 10 od and portions of the activating gases which are Scope 0f the appended claims without departvat different temperatures out of contact with the ing from the Spirit 0f the inventin. o opposite sides of baiiies, partitions and the like so In Said drawings:

that there is no heat transfer between portions Figure 1 iS a Schematic and 411%litlillim'ii of the same gas at diiererlt temperatures. Showing 0f on adsorption System in accordance 15 An important feature ofthe invention resides With the Present inventiOn and including' novel in the novel construction of the adsorber unit Continuous rotary type adSOlbli wherein an adsorption chamber is formed be- Figure 2 1S a" fragmentary' arcuate Seetio tween two `figures oi revolution, preferably cylinthrough the dsorber taksen for instance 0n une 20 dors, divided into o plurality of compartments by 2-2 0f Fie 3J f so partitions, each compartment having, interposed Figure 3 is Si PIM View 0f the edsolber; between the ends thereof, a bed of adsorbent maf' Figure 4 is fragmentary Section ci the rotor .rial which must be tmversed by @ses @owing taken at right angles to the airis of rotation and l from one end of the compartment to the other on 1.1m@ 5 3 of Fig-2; end in which the exposed surfaceoi each adsorber Figure 5 is a fragmentary, radial section taken 25 hed has an area :many times greater than the on broken une 5 5 of Fig' 2;

cross section of the compartment normal to the mgm? 6 is ai perspective View of one of the pm direction of flow of the gases, whereby great ad mmm @und Semen umts mmmg the dsabem sorption capacity is provided in a minimum voibeds in@ upper portion being maken @my @n ""2 Q w unie anc me resistance 'to gas new is maintainer?, une, d Fig' 2.?

l@ 8 1 mmmum Figure is a side eievation or the whoie Another important feature oli sme um an? the ammgmem 0,. .he o sis-nre e is a rraginentarji, timgranimetic n a modifi o e donnerait o he devoid o nsnis and the like oi :come

*which are successively brongil int/o the catia the gas to be treated. and each then into the nath of activating gases for reviviyine the adsorisent motorini,

E-eretofore, continuous ro 4have been proposed, but eine i their nctneai characteristics, pinned decided limitations on. en pacien, we!! oarteti undesired to now of the tion provides a oer i verf; thin and of wide extent, ail withu 5S outer shells and de? o fe merits oi u o nien of o1 'te in the construction or pact space, so that gas at high velocities and in large quantities can be passed through an adsorber of relatively small cubical content. In this manner the size of the apparatus, is very materially reduced over that of previous rotary ,type adsorbers of the same'capacity and over the stationaryl bed type adsorbers where several are used successively with adsorption and activating I2 and branch I3 for delivery into the sector I4,

of the rotatable adsorption chamber I5, contained between the concentric inner and outer shells `I6 and I1. The sector is dened by the seals I8 and I9 on a stationary top hood and the corresponding seals 20 and 2l .on a stationary bottom hood.

The air in passing through the adsorbent material contained in this sector is deprived of part of its moisture and is discharged into the intercooler 23 where at least a portion of the heat of adsorption is removed in any suitable manner, as indirectly by cold water, and the partially dried and cooledair is delivered into the pipe 24 and to the sector 25 of the adsorber chamber defined at the top by the seals I9 and 25 and at the bottom by the seals 2I and 21.

On this second pass through the adsorbent chamber, substantially all of the remaining moisture is removed from the air and it is discharged into the aftercoler 29 where the heat of adsorption of the second pass `is removed and the air is delivered to the pipe 30 for further use, for instance, for conditioning the atmosphere in houses or other buildings.

As previously stated, the adsorption chamber is continuously rotatable successively to bring small 'compartments containing adsorbent' beds into the various sectors between the seals. adsorber beds in the small chambers leaving the sector for the second pass of the air are brought into the sector 3| defined at the top by the

seals

32 and 26 and at the bottom by the seals 33. and 21. 'I'hrough this sector hot gases lare passed from the pipe 34 to heat the adsorbent material and drive oif the adsorbed moisture, the partially co'oled gases and -their burden of moisture being discharged through the pipe 35 to any suitable stack or the like.

The hot gases for this activating or revivifying of the adsorbent material are produced by the combustion of any suitable fuel in the furnace 31. It is preferred, however, to burn a gaseous or liquid fuel which can be brought into the furnace through the pipe 38. The products of combustion are withdrawn from the furnace through the pipe 39 by means of the blower 40 for delivery to the pipe 34 under low pressure. i

Air for supporting combustion of the fuel is brought to the furnace through the pipes 4I and 4| and part of this air is preheated as the result of the operation of purging the adsorber beds as they leave the activating phase and come into thev sector between the seals I8 and 32 at the top an-

d

20 and 33 at the bottom. These adsorber beds are hot and filled with burned gases from Thosethe furnace and in order to remove these gases and partially cool the adsorber beds before they move into position for use again in the first stage adsorption, air is blown through them. This may be readily effected by tapping off a pipe 42 from the air pipe I2 and leading it to this sector 43. The'air, after passing through this sector, may be slightly diluted with products of combustion but has its temperature considerably raised. It is discharged under pressure from the blower I I into the pipe v4I which leads to the furnace and thereby a regenerative effect is obtained, making use of this heat to increase the temperature of the products of combustion from the furnace for more effective activation with less fuel.

It will be appreciated that suitable filters or other air cleaning means may be interposed between the air inlets and the adsorber, the gas inlet and the adsorber and, if necessary, between the furnace and the adsorber to prevent particles of dust, dirt or soot from clogging the pores of the adsorbent material for, in the present case, it is preferred to use an adsorbent material having characteristics substantially like silica gel, or the gel of other activated hydrous oxides. The rotary adsorber unit in practical form com, prises a hollow cylindrical rotor containing the adsorber beds, a hood closing each end thereof and containing entrance and exit ports for the various gases and a supporting frame for holding the parts in relative positions and to provide bearings for the central shaft about which the rotor is revolved by any suitable source of power. In Figures 3 and 7 are shown the top hood 50, which is circular in form, as supported from' the four side frame members I, preferably angle bars joined into a square and each having a flange overlapping and secured to a peripheral ange of the hood. The bottom hood is identical with thetop in every respect and is likewise secured to a bottom frame. The top and bottom frames are connected by vertical corner posts, as seen in Figure 7, which may extend to form feet. It is considered desirable to operate the device with theaxis vertical but this is not necessary. A suitable bearing member' 52 is carried by a spider 53 from each hood and journaled for ro` tation in these bearings is the central shaft 54 having thereon a suitable gear or worm wheel within the housing 55 driven by a worm or other gearing from the shaft 56 of the motor 51 suitably supported above the top hood in any convenient manner.

As best seenv in Figures 5. and 7, the rotor is provided with spiders 58 which support it from the shaft 54 so that it is rotated therewith.

Figure 5 shows clearly the inner and outer cylin cal shells I6 and I1, concentrically moun edl and formed of sheet steel, each of the same length and each reinforced top' and bottom by angle bar 60. This bar has one flange secured against the outer side of the shell and the remaining flange 6I radial and positioned even with its end of the cylinder.'` Each shell is lined with a layer of suitable heat insulating material, for instance,

sheet asbestos

63, 64, respectively.

The ends of the shells are open and the space included between them has been referred to as the adsorption chamber. As seen in Figures 2 and 4, it is divided into a series of full length sector-like compartments by means of the substantially radial partitions each formedin two parts and `1I and extending from the inner to the outer shell and from the top tcthe bottom coniined between a pair of screens and substantially for thereof. The compartments thus formed are each traversed at a sharp angle by a thin bed of adsorbent material. Alternate bedso 12 are inclined to lean in the direction of rotation of the rotor and the remaining ones in the opposite direction. Each of these beds is of uniform thickness and the adsorbent material thereof is 14 or 15 spaced uniformly apart throughout their areas and each screen extending from the inner to the outer shell the full height thereof. The beds are inclined circumferentially to engage one partition at the top and the adjacent partition at the bottom, whereby they extend angu larly across the passage through the adsorption chamber between adjacent partitions so that the gas in flowing longitudinally through any compartment must iiow through the bed of adsorbent material therein.

The adsorber beds on opposite -sides of the same partition are oppositely inclined so that their adjacent ends are against the intermediate partition and their opposite ends respectively against adjacent partitions on opposite sides of the intermediate one. gases engaging a partition which is between seals will be of the same temperature, which will be explained in more detail later. The beds may be said to be arranged so that in'edge view four of them form a W with inlets and outlets in the three Vs one inverted, comprising the W. y

For ease in construction the rotor is assembled from the two concentric cylinders or shells with their end reinforcements and a plurality" of similar screenunits each including a pair of adsorber bed screens, a partition and a number of vertical spacers 1S and 11. These spacers are formed of metal plates substantially triangular in shape and arranged at right angles to the partition plate and parallel to the axis of the rotor. Each extends to the inner `face of the screen and is secured thereto as by welding or brazing to form a support therefor. But two spacers are shown for each screen, but it will be obvious that any requisite number may be inserted and positioned as desired.

These units comprising the two screens, the partition and associated parts, best seen in Figure 6, are' all identical in construction and are arranged alternately in the annular space between the outer and inner cylinders by reversing them top for bottom. Each is triangular in vertical chordal section as seen in Figure 2 and in horizontal section is a trapezoid. When alternated and arranged in the space between the two cylinders at proper intervals there remains between each two of the units a space such as designated 12 or 13 in Figure 2, which is to receive the adsorbent material.

In detail these units include the substantially at partition plate 10 which is slightly shorter than the length of the cylinders but has one of its ends bent over in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotor to form the arcuate seal engaging tip at the end thereof, which is flush .with the shell end.

The outer edge of the partition plate is bent substantially at right angles to the main part as -at 8i, in Figure 4, and there is welded at'! a plate 83 bent in the opposite direction to form the oppositely disposed triangular wings at the outer edge of the partition plate. At the inner edge a similar arrangement is provided by the bent over portion l34 and the welded angle plate II. The spacers 16 and 11 are attached as by edge as 85 This ensures that any welding or riveting to the intermediate portions of the partition plate as seen in Figure 4.

About the skeleton thus formed is wrapped the screen which will form the sides of adjacent adsorber beds. This may be effected by brazing or spot welding one edge of the screen with the inner extending the screen along one face of the unit, across theA outer end over wings 8l and83, along the other face, and iinally over 84 to which it is secured. It'may be suitably attached at points of contact with the skeleton. The top and bottom, of the unit are left open and the free edges of the screen around these openings are reinforced by the metal straps 86 at the spaced edges. Where the screens converge and meet as at 90, with theedge of the partition 10 opposite the curved tip 80, they are secured thereto in any suitable manner as by welding.

The units are distributed in the Aannulus between the cylinders to provide a uniform spacing between the screens of adjacent ones for the reception of the adsorbent material and are'secured in position by radial screws such as 9| on the outer cylinder and 92 on the inner cylinder which pass through openings in the cylinders and are received in openings in the

wings

8l, 83 and 84, 85, respectively. Conveniently self-tapping screws can be used, of the type used in sheet metal work,

which draw the wings tightly down against the tends across the edge of the partition 19 and.

closes the adjacent ends of two beds.' Such a radial cap 94 comprises the flat bottom sheet of uniform width substantially equal to twice the thickness of an adsorber bed. It has the marginal U-shaped anges 95 which nt over the edges of the outer screens and their reinforcing straps 86. A channel member 96 secured to the` center of the inner side of the cap member fits tightly over the junction of .the two inner screens and the partition.

End flanges 91 on4 the caps t respectively against the inner and outer shells, as clearly seen in Figure 5, and are secured thereto by means of the bolts 98, thus reinforcing the structure and providing a direct connection between the inner and outer shells. In assembly. the bottom caps are all placed in position and the adsorbent material is then filled into the spaces remaining between the units, providing the beds of uniform thickness, after which the top caps are put in position','retaining the adsorbent material permanentv1y in the beds.

end hoods which'provide the inlet and outlet passages for the gases and which confine the various gas streams' to thev requisite number of adto and fitting within the peripheral iianges |03 and |04, the border rings and |06, and spaced a short distance inward from these, the corresponding ring members |01 and |08. leaving the narrow annuli |09 and ||0 for the reception of the peripheral seals.

'I'he seals comprise the annular members I|| and ||2 formed preferably of compressed woven asbestos, impregnated with graphite for lubrication purposes, conveniently formed of two sheets of the same thickness, and together forming a close sliding fit between the plates |05, |01 or |06, |08 adapted to have their lower edges rest on the flanges 6I of the reinforcing angles for the rotor shells to form a gas-tight fit and permit the rotor to rotate in respect to the seals.

The inner and outer seals are the same and the remaining description will be confined to the outer and upper one. Above the seal member is a soft rope ||4 of asbestos or similar material impregnated with graphite which is overlaid by a circle of sector-like metal pressure plates l|5 each having at least a pair of spaced pins IIS extending upwardly therefrom surrounded by the coil springs ||1 which bear beneath the adjusting plates 8 whose position is adjustable to vary the tension on the springs by means of the adjusting screws ||9 and lock nuts which cool)- erate with the plate |02. The pressure exerted by the springs on the pressure plates |5 not only serves tovcause intimate contact between the lower edges of the seal member and the flange 6|, but expands the soft rope ||4 into close lateral engagement with the plates |05 and |01 to prevent any leakage around the edges of the seal It will, be appreciated that the seal is continuous around the whole periphery but that the pressure plates ||5 and the spring abutment plates 8 are in sectors for conveniencein adjustment of the springs.

Between the respective ports'through the hood as seen in lFigure 3, there are arranged radial seals which separate' the adsorber beds into groups through which the various gases pass, the beds in each group being in multiple in respect to the flow of gases and not in tandem.

Each radial seal, of which there are the same number as there are ports through the hood and which number may vary in accordance with the manner of using the adsorber, is constructed in the same manner and a description oi' one will be sufilcient. This seal must extend from the outer peripheral seal to the inner peripheral seal and must make contact at all times with at least one of the partition plates.

It takes the form of a sector-like metal plate |2| having secured thereto the sheet |22 of simiiar material to the seal and having an arcuf ate extent somewhat greater than the arcuate distance between. adjacent partitions.-

The radial seal overlaps the reinforced edges o f the shells to the extent of the width oi' onehali of the inner and outer peripheral seals and for this purpose the inner half of each peripheral seal is cut away for the arcuate extent of the radial seal, and bears closely at |23 on the upper surface of the metal plate |2|. The inner guide Ifor each of the peripheral seals is cut awa for the same purpose as seen in Figure 5.

Viewing Figure 2 andlconsidering the upper seal, it will be seen that the plate |2| has secured to its upper surface a pair of spaced radial strips |25, each having secured to each side thereof a sheet |26 of the same type of sealing material as used in the peripheral seals and these composite assemblies |25, |26 t between the combined guide and partition plates l|21 and |28 which divide the hood into compartments and permit vertical movement of the seals. 'I'he guide plates |21 are the legs of a'U-shaped plate having the base |29 secured to a metal plate |30 which is in turn secured to the portions |3| forming extensions of the guides |28 which are attached as at |32, in a gas-tight manner to the top plate |02 of the hood. In this manner the seals are removable for inspection or renewal. Each( of the sliding seals for the radial seal is provided with a soft rope |33 to prevent leakage in the manner described in connection with the peripheral seals. This rope is covered by astrip |34 pressed downwardly by coil springs |35, surrounding pins |36, the springs being compressed by a plate |31 adjusted by the bolt |38 and lock nut which cooperate with the plate |30 in the manner seen in Figures 2 and 5.

^ The spring pressure plates |31 have their ends positioned to cooperate, on movement, with the legs of U-shaped members |40 secured between the guide plates |21 and |28. This prevents.

pressure plate displacement. Any suitable arrangement for a similar purpose is provided for the pressure plates ||8 oflthe peripheral seals. This arrangement must also prevent rotation of any of the peripheral seal parts due to the friction oi the seal with the flange of the rotor.

The spaces between adjacent seals each constitute either the inlet or the outlet to a portion oi' the adsorber beds, the exact number being determined by the extent of the arc between the seals, which is adjusted for the desired air or gas flow through the adsorber beds. Suitable ports |50 are provided for access to these spaces.

'I'he disposition of the adsorber beds in the annular space between the two cylinders ofthe rotor is zig zag or sinuous as seen in Figure 2 providing the entrances for the gases in the vs A between beds.` From these Vs the gases pass through the beds B, B, Figure 2, to the outlet Vs C on the opposite side. The partitions are in the centers of the Ys and are exposed on both sides to gas of the same temperature and pressure in the intermediate positions in any section between any pair of seals.

The gases passing through the adsorber beds change their temperature in this passage, those,

giving up moisture to the beds becomingwarmer and those taking up moisture from the beds becoming cooler. If the partitions were so disposed that theyl had on one side entering air4 or gases and on the other side exit air or gases from the beds, there would be a large heat loss through the metal oi' the partitions unless expensive insulation were provided. With the present disposition alternate partitions are exposed on both sides respectively to inlet and outlet gases and there is no heat loss through them.

The only exception to this rule is in connection with the partitions which are actually in engagement with the radial seals which then forml the true partitions between sectors of the adsorber chamber and preventl the intermingling of gases in diierent phases of the process, but since there are so few partitions under-these conditions and then not at all times, the losses here are in'- consequential. It will be seen that the radial seals are somewhat greater in arcuate extent than the space between any two adjacent partitions so that one adsorber'bed will be completely out out of use when the partitions on opposite sides thereof engage the same radial seal. In such case there is a dead gas space for a time, between gases in diierent phases. Losses by heat trans- -fer through partitions occur only when single seals are in an intermediate position such as shown in Figure 2.

The arrangement of the seals is particularly effective, preventing any possibility of leakage radially or circumferentially eitherlinto or out oi the rotor or between adjacent sections thereof.

These devices can be built in various sizes to 4 accommodate different volumes of air or gas.

The same general .constructional features may be used for all reasonable size devices. One feature which may be of importance in making the device of larger size is some means to maintain the beds of adsorbent material of substantially uniform thickness throughout their extent so that the ow of gas is not localized therein. This may be effected conveniently by so disposing the spacer plates 76, il in the units that instead of being opposite each other on the two sides of anl adsorber bed, they are alternately disposed'so that if there is any distortion of the screens due to settling or packing ofthe adsorbent material, the whole bed will take a sinuous form, but will remain of substantially uniform thickness.

This last feature is well shown in Figure 8 where the'spacers in the units F are arranged with three on Vthe right ofthe partitions and twol on the left. Those in the reversed unit G are similarly positioned. This disposes threel on one side of each adsorber bed H and two on the other with staggered relation In this arrangement two types of unit are necessary, one for disposition, as

F, and the other for reversed positioning, as G.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: f

1. An adsorber unit of the continuous type including, in combination, two concentric shells defining therebetween an adsorption chamber, a plurality of partitions each extending'between said shells and from end to end thereof and dividing the chamber into a. plurality of individual compartments, an adsorber bed in each compartment extending from shell to shell and from near one end of one partition to near the opposite end of the adjacent partition to be thus interposed between the ends of the compartment said bed being of less thickness than the distance between adjacent partitions.

2. An adsorber unit of the continuous type including, in combination, two concentric shells deiinlng therebetween an adsorption chamber, a plurality oi partitions each extending between said shells and from end to end thereofand dividing the chamber into a plurality of individual compartments, an -adsorber bed in each compartment extending from shell to .shell and from-near one end of one partition to near the opposite end of the adjacent partition to be thus interposed between the ends of the compartment; adjacent beds being oppositely linclined inA re spect to the partitions, said bed being of less thickness than the distance between adjacent partitions.

3. An adsorberunit of the continuous type including, in combination, two spaced coaxial plates in the form of closed gures, a plurality of beds of adsorbent material each extending 'between said plates, a partition between each pair of beds and dividing the space between said plates into compartments each traversed by an adsorbent bed of less thickness than the distance between adjacent partitions, means to deliver gases through` a plurality of beds in multiple, said beds being so positioned in respect to said partitions that substantially the whole of each partition is exposed on both sides to-gas at the same conditions.

4. An adsorber unit of the continuous type including, in combination, two spaced, concentric shells of the same length, substantially radial plates dividing the annular space into a plurality of compartments open at the shell ends, an adsorbent bed traversing each compartment, each bed being larger in extent than the transverse area of the compartment and adjacent beds being arranged symmetrically in respect to fthe interposed partition.

5. An adsorber unit of the continuous type including, in combination, two spaced, concentric shells of the same length, substantially radial plates dividing the annular space into a plurality of compartments open at the shell ends, an adsorbent bed traversing each compartment, each bed being larger in extent than the transverse area of the compartment and means to deliver gases longitudinally through several compartments in multiple.

6. An adsorber unit of the continuous type including, in combination, two spaced, concentric shells of the same length, a pervious layer of adsorbent material extending between said shells, said layer having parts disposed at angles to each other to present entrance and exit Vs for gas toward the two ends of the shells.

1. An adsorber unit. of the continuous type including, in combination, two spaced, concentric shells of the same length, a pervious layer of' adsorbent material extending between said shells, said layer having parts disposed at angles to ,each other to present entrance and exit ys for gas toward the two ends of the shells and axially disposed partitions extending from end to end of said shells and-dividing said layer into sections.

8. An adsorber unit of the continuous type including, in combination, two spaced, concentri shellsof the same length, a pervious layer of adsorbent material extending between said shells. said layer having parts disposed at angles to each other to present entrance and exit Vs for gas toward the two ends of the shells, axially dis- 'posed partitions extending from end to end oi' said shells and dividing said layer into sections, a hood closing each end-of said space between shells, an inlet port in one hood, a similarly positioned outlet port in the other hood and a seal dening each radial side of each port and adapted to cooperate successively with each partition as the shells rotate in respect to the hoods.

9. A rotor for an adsorber of the continuous type comprising inner and outer concentric shells, a plurality of units connecting said shells, each unit comprising a partition plate extending between said shells and a pair of screens secured to said plate and extending between said shells,

adjacent units having adjacent screens cooperating to hold adsorbent material.

, l0. A rotor for an adsorber of the continuous type comprising inner and outer concentric shells, a plurality of units connecting said shells and each comprising a partition plate extending from shell to shell substantially radially, and two screens each secured to one radial edge of said plate and diverging therefrom and extending between said shells.

11. A rotor for an adsorber of the continuous type comprising inner and outer concentric shells, a plurality of units connecting said shells and each comprising a partition plate extending from shell to shell substantially radially and two screens each secured to one radial edge of said plate and diverging therefrom and extending between said shells, said units being alternately reversed in position whereby adjacent screens are uniformly spaced and adsorbent material between such screens.

12. A rotor for an adsorber of the continuous type comprising inner and outer concentric shells. a plurality of units connecting said shells and each comprising a partition plate extending from shell to shell substantially radially, and two screens each secured to one radial edge of said plate and diverging therefrom and extending between said shells, said unlts being alternately reversed in position whereby adjacent screens are uniformly spaced, a cap spanning the meeting edges of the screens of each unit and closing the ends of the spaces between these and adjacent screens.

13. A unit assembly for a rotary adsorber including, in combination, a substantially flat partition plate adapted to be mounted substantially radially, a triangular ilange at the outer edge thereof, a smaller triangular ange at the inner edge thereof, a screen near each face of said plate and strechingfrom flange to flange and stiffeners of sheet metal extending away from the plate and secured to the screens.

plate and secured to the screens, said stitfeners being so spaced from the inner edge of the plate that when alternate units are reversed to bring their facing screens a uniform distance apart the spacer edges will be staggered on opposite sides of the enclosed space between screens.

l5. A seal for use between stationary and rotatable parts of a continuous type adsorber including, in combination, aseallng strip adapted to engage one of said parts, the other part having a guide channel for the reception of part of said strip, a pressure plate to press the strip against the nrst mentioned part, means resiliently urging said plate toward said part and a rope of soft material between said plate and strip and pressed by said plate into engagement with the walls of the channel and the rear of said strip.

16. In a gas adsorber, a housing forming an annular chamber, radial partitions insaid chamber forming a plurality of compartments, and a 'bed of adsorbent material disposed diagonally in each compartment and of less thickness than the distance between adjacent partitions, the two adjacent partitions and bed of adsorbent in 'cross section'forming a letter' N.

17. In a gas adsorber, a housing forming an annular chamber, a plurality of beds of adsorbent in said chamber extending from the outer to the inner boundaries of the annulus, any four adjacent beds in cross section forming a letter W and substantially radial central partitions in each of the Vs forming the W.

ERNEST BALDWIN MILLER.