Design of an industrial multi-bed (V)PSA unit for argon concentration

Pressure swing adsorption systems have been devised to concentrate argon from a binary gas mixture of oxygen and (O2:Ar = 95:5 mol%) that an industrial generation vacuum (VSA) unit produces air. The kinetically-driven processes investigated in this study contain self-purging step up two double-ended pressure equalization steps. Three cycle configurations, each which has one, three beds, were simulated. effects ranges the cycle, either (PSA, 1–3 bar) or (VSA, 0.1–1 bar), as well time extensively assessed with respect following separation key performance indicators (KPIs): purity, recovery, bed productivity specific energy consumption. It turned out purity recovery could be significantly improved VSA cycles at expense single not 98+% is typically required for certain applications such steel production inert welding. Thus, second was added increase further it found integrated two-stage system capable achieving overall performances: 98.1%, 20.3%, 0.011 molAr kgads−1h−1 consumption 53.2 MJ kgAr−1. Considering real efficiencies turbomachinery proposed resulted 75% higher than conventional stand-alone cryogenic distillation designed achieve same separation. However, technology expected more attractive option process terms CAPEX.