Compact Flat-Box Adsorbers for Air Separation by PSA Processes
Systematic methods and tools for managing the complexity
Process Simulation and Optimization (T4-9P)
Keywords: pressure swing adsorption, flat-box adsorber; air separation
Cylindrical adsorbers are usually used for pressure swing adsorption (PSA) processes. In this study, the flat-box adsorbers which stack together replaced the traditional cylindrical adsorbers. Simulation was performed for separation of air (21% oxygen; 79% nitrogen) in Skarstrom cycle. This study used the equilibrium model and the pressure drop could be neglected. Instantaneous equilibrium between solid and gas phase with non-isothermal operation were assumed. The adsorption isotherms used were extend Langmuir isotherms and 5A zeolite was utilized as adsorbent. In addition, to verify the applicability of the simulation program on the system of air separation with 5A zeolite, the simulation results of the cylindrical adsorbers were compared with the experimental data in literature. The simulation results were in good agreement with experimental data obtained elsewhere, and showed the reliability of this PSA simulation program. The simulation results of flat-box adsorbers and traditional cylindrical adsorbers were compared. The performance of the flat-box adsorbers is better than that of the traditional cylindrical adsorbers. The effects of operating variables such as steps time, adsorption pressure, the ratio of bed width to bed height, the heat transfer coefficient between neighboring adsorbers were investigated on the performance of PSA process. Four-bed processes were explored by simulation and the simulation results were compared with dual-bed processes. The performance of the four-bed processes was better than that in the dual-bed processes.
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Presented Wednesday 19, 13:30 to 15:00, in session Process Simulation and Optimization (T4-9P).
