Method and device for drying a gas

Method for drying a gas by means of adsorption on a regenerable desiccant (11), whereby a portion of the dried gas is used for regenerating the desiccant. The gas portion used for the regeneration is heated in at least two successive steps, said steps being performed in different zones (30,31 or 33-36) situated successively in the flow direction of the gas portion through the regenerating desiccant (11) and by stopping the heating in a zone (30,31 or 33-36) as soon as the desiccant (11) in this zone (30,31 or 33-36) is regenerated, so that this zone (30,31 or 33-36) may already be cooled down by the gas portion for regeneration while a successive zone (30,31 or 33-36) is still being regenerated by the heated gas. In each vessel (7,8) there are at least two individually controllable heating elements (25-26;27-28;38-41).