Optimization of Multibed Pressure Swing Adsorption Processes

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research Vol. 48; no. 11; pp. 5388 - 5398
• Main Authors: Nikolić, Dragan, Kikkinides, Eustathios S, Georgiadis, Michael C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 03.06.2009
• Subjects: Adsorption; Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Process Design and Control; Optimization; Pressure swing adsorption
• DOI: 10.1021/ie801357a
• ISSN: 0888-5885

This work presents an optimization framework for complex pressure swing adsorption (PSA) processes including multibed configurations and multilayered adsorbents. The number of beds, PSA cycle configuration, and various operating and design parameters have been systematically optimized using recent advances on process optimization. The Unibed principle has been adopted relying on the simulation over times of only one bed while storage buffers have been used to model bed interactions. A novel state transition network (STN) representation is employed for the efficient simulation and optimization of the processes. Two large-scale multicomponent separation processes have been used to illustrate the applicability and potential of the proposed approach in terms of improvement of product purity and recovery. Results indicate that significant improvements can be achieved over base case designs.