PRESSURE SWING ADSORPTION - OPTIMIZATION OF A TRACE SEPARATION SYSTEM

Based on a parameter study an optimization problem is presented and so lved for a trace separation system. Adsorption pressure, purge rate an d column length seems to be the most important parameters which affect the system performance, and related cost parameters should be chosen carefully in optimal design and operation of PSA systems. Since the op timization process is quite time consuming, model simplification is ve ry important. Therefor it is also shown that a plug flow model gives a dequate results compared to the more complex axial dispersion model.