Zeolite molecular sieve regeneration typically follows this process:

Depressurization (if PSA-based): Lower the pressure to release the gases that were adsorbed, such as nitrogen in oxygen concentrators.
Purge with Dry Gas: Use a stream of dry gas (such as nitrogen or air) to purge the molecular sieve bed and remove adsorbed molecules, like moisture or hydrocarbons.
Thermal Regeneration: Apply heat (150°C to 300°C) to the zeolite molecular sieve to desorb any remaining gases or moisture. The exact temperature depends on the type of zeolite and the nature of the adsorbates.
Cooling: Once the adsorbed materials are removed, cool the zeolite molecular sieve to operational temperature for reuse.
This cyclical process enables the zeolite to be used continuously without losing adsorption capacity.

An additional perspective to consider is that zeolite regeneration is fundamentally governed by the balance between adsorption forces and thermal energy within its microporous structure. Since adsorption in zeolites is an exothermic process, increasing the temperature shifts the equilibrium toward desorption, allowing trapped molecules (such as water or gases) to be released from the internal pore network.
What is often underestimated in practice is the role of internal diffusion limitations. Even when external conditions (temperature, pressure, purge flow) are correctly set, the rate of regeneration can be limited by how quickly molecules migrate from the inner pores to the outer surface. This is why parameters such as pellet size, layer thickness, and heating rate directly influence regeneration efficiency, especially in industrial-scale systems where mass and heat transfer are non-uniform.
In real applications, the most efficient regeneration strategies are often hybrid, combining heat input, purge gas, and sometimes vacuum to accelerate both desorption and diffusion processes while minimizing power consumption.
For a more practical explanation of how these principles are implemented in gas dehydration systems under real operating conditions, it is worth reviewing this article:
https://globecore.com/transformer-maintenance/zeolite-regeneration-intended-for-gas-dehydration/.

You’re absolutely right — regeneration is governed by the competition between adsorption energy and supplied thermal energy, and internal diffusion inside the micropore network is frequently the rate‑limiting step. Raising temperature or lowering partial pressure (via purge gas or vacuum) shifts the adsorption equilibrium toward desorption, but the molecules still have to migrate from deep pores to the external surface. That makes pellet size, bed depth/layer thickness, heating rate and thermal gradients critical: smaller pellets and thinner beds reduce internal diffusion resistance and shorten cycle time, while too‑fast heating risks thermal gradients, binder damage and reduced sieve life. In practice hybrid strategies that combine controlled heating, a steady purge flow and occasional vacuum steps give the best tradeoff between speed and energy consumption because heat accelerates desorption and purge/vacuum maintain a low driving‑force for re‑adsorption and sweep desorbed vapors away.

On industrial systems these principles are implemented in a few standard ways: direct hot‑air regeneration with a blower and controlled heater for dry desorption (hot air capable well above typical drying temps), steam flushing where oil or condensable residues must be removed (overheated steam at elevated pressure/temperature), followed by a hot‑air drying stage and a vacuum purge to clear residual steam and reduce final moisture. Practical parameters to watch are regeneration temperature (trade off speed vs thermal stability), purge flowrate and direction (uniform flow avoids channeling), controlled ramp rates to avoid thermal shock, and outlet monitoring (dew point or moisture content) to validate completion. For transformer and gas dehydration applications, regimes typically use steam cleaning for oil removal, then 150–250°C hot‑air drying with adequate flow, and in some mobile/regeneration blocks hot‑air capability up to ~400°C for fast cycles — all adjusted by bed geometry and target residual moisture. Monitoring outlet dew point and doing periodic breakthrough testing are the simplest operational ways to optimize cycle length while protecting zeolite life.