Reversible solid/gas adsorption process, comprises matching adsorption capacity of reactor to evaporation capacity of product to be adsorbed

摘要

For at least one cycle of the process, the duration of the adsorption phase is modified to change the adsorption capacity of the reactor to the evaporation capacity of the product to be adsorbed. The process has a number of cycles where each involves at least one adsorption phase during which an adsorption reactor (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5) containing adsorbent is connected to a vessel (2) containing a product to be adsorbed. The duration is modified progressively over a number of cycles taking a transition time. This transition time starts as soon as the product evaporation capacity (which varies over time) reaches a maximum value (E0) and ends when the evaporation capacity drops below a preset percentage of the adsorption capacity at which the product is stable. The duration is selected so that the corresponding adsorption capacity is equal to the evaporation capacity, determined empirically. In a process where each cycle involves an adsorption phase, a regeneration phase and a cooling phase, when the length of the adsorption phase is modified, the lengths of the other phases are modified in the same proportion. At any time, at least one of the reactors (R1 to R5) is in the adsorption phase and at least one is having its duration modified. An Independent claim is also included for a device for the above process, comprising a control unit which modifies the duration as required.