A new concept in the design of pressure-swing adsorption processes for multicomponent gas mixtures

This paper discusses a new concept in pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) proce ss design for the separation of multicomponent gas mixtures. A more compact process design is achievable by incorporating two or more different adsorb ents into a single PSA column. An example, used to illustrate the new conce pt, involved the separation of a ternary gas mixture containing carbon diox ide, methane, and nitrogen. With the new design, only two pairs of adsorpti on columns were required in place of the usual three. Feed was introduced a t midcolumn of unit 1 and a midcolumn side stream from unit 2 supplied inte rmediate product. Three different adsorbents were required for the example separation. The process was simulated using a simple mathematical model whi ch demonstrated that the new design gave a performance comparable to that o f the original integrated process.