Patent ID: 8500851

Claim:
A process for removing contaminants from a gas stream, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least two reactors that operate in parallel, wherein each reactor comprises a self-contained, fluidized bed of an initial sorbent capable of removing contaminants, wherein each reactor is consistently maintained at a temperature above about 100° C. and a pressure above about 20 psig, thereby increasing the speed and energy efficiency of the process, and decreasing the attrition rate of the sorbent; (b) contacting a contaminant-laden input gas stream with the initial sorbent of step (a) in at least one of said reactors, thereby producing a contaminant-depleted product gas stream and a contaminant-laden sorbent; (c) discontinuing the flow of said input gas stream into at least one of the reactors, then contacting at least a portion of the contaminant-laden sorbent with an inert purge gas, thereby removing at least a portion of any moisture contained within the sorbent and producing a dried contaminant-laden sorbent; (d) contacting at least a portion of the dried contaminant-laden sorbent with a regeneration gas stream, thereby producing a regenerated sorbent and an off-gas stream, wherein the simultaneous opening and closing of valves controlling the flow of the input gas stream, the inert purge gas and the regeneration gas stream to and from said at least two reactors moderates the rate of change in temperature and pressure during said process to decrease the attrition rate of the sorbent.