Gas purification by the PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) process - Design and prospects

This dossier, on "Gas purification using the PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) process – Sizing and prospects" [J 3 607], is a logical sequel to the dossier on "Gas purification using the PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) process – Fundamentals and pressure cycles" [J 3 606] .

Also a specific follow-up to the "Adsorption" dossier – Processes and applications [J 2 731] , the aim of this dossier is to provide readers with the additional practical information they need to fully understand the specific features and sizing criteria of a PSA unit, as well as the prospects for technological developments and applications of these systems.

Thus, after reading, the reader will be able to evaluate the performance associated with the use of PSA purification technology, as well as give a preliminary sizing of PSA via a knowledge :

• performance calculation parameters ;

• the influence of PSA cycle pressure levels on its performance;

• the "all-linear" methodology for calculating a PSA ;

• principles of adsorber sizing ;

• the principles of valve design and sizing.

Some of these fundamentals are also illustrated by examples of VSA (Vaccum Swing Adsorption) and PSA oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen purification units. Finally, some current and foreseeable developments in PSA technology are presented.

With the basic knowledge of adsorbent selection and PSA cycle construction already acquired after reading the [J 3 606] file, we now turn our attention to the more "economic" aspects of the process, through its performance level and sizing, the key elements in the economic interest of using a PSA.