Two-dimensional temperature profiles along the honeycomb axis and rotation angle were monitored by six pairs of thermocouples placed in the rotor at equal intervals in order to measure the extent of regeneration of the rotor. At an optimal rotation speed, the axial part of the rotor near the gas exit is not heated up to the regeneration temperature in the regeneration zone while the exit temperature remains at a characteristic temperature under dynamic equilibrium. Effects of rotation speed n, air velocity U, regeneration temperature T_e1 and feed humidity H_s0 on temperature profile in a honeycomb adsorbent rotor were investigated in terms of relative heat capacity Λ = ρ_bC_pcnL/βρ_gC_pgU, number of mass transfer units N = kamL/ρ_gU and latent heat ratio r = Q′H_s0/C_pg(T_e1 – T_s0). Temperature distribution is not much different for various values of N. Regeneration of the rotor becomes incomplete and the cooling stage becomes longer with an increasing value of Λ. Regeneration of the rotor becomes incomplete as the value of r becomes larger.
Based on experimental results, optimal rotation speed n_opt decreases to some extent at higher humidity and lower regeneration temperature. The final recommendation for the optimal rotation speed is given by a simple relationship Λ_opt = 0.38(1 – r).