The process of desiccants being rejuvenated by water being driven off the desiccant. Hot air passes through the desiccant bed, heating it. As a result, the partial pressure of the water vapour becomes higher than that in regenerating air. Water is therefore released from the desiccant and carried away with the air stream (purge air) until a new state of equilibrium is reached.

(See also, ‘Air dryers’, Desiccant dryers’)