Pressure swing adsorption processes: Intraparticle diffusion/convection models

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00023a042· OSTI ID:5518054

Lu, Zuping; Loureiro, J M; LeVan, M D ^[1]; Rodrigues, A E ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
2. Univ. of Porto (Portugal). School of Engineering

The dynamic behavior of a three-step one-column isothermal PSA process is assessed by simulation; three models are used: equilibrium, intraparticle diffusion, and intraparticle diffusion/convection. Two process performance parameters, product enrichment and recovery of the light component, are used to measure the separation performance. The effects of several operating variables on the process performance are addressed. Higher pressure ratios (P[sub h]/P[sub l]) and higher adsorption capacities increase the process performance. The process performance is practically independent of the step rates, although it can decrease if high feed rates are used together with large feed duration times. The limiting performance of the system is found in the absence of mass-transfer resistances. Intraparticle convection, enhancing mass transfer inside particles, increases the process performance relative to intraparticle diffusion alone; the improvement is limited by the equilibrium situation.

• OSTI ID: 5518054
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States), Vol. 32:11; ISSN 0888-5885
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
PERFORMANCE
ADSORPTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONVECTION
DIFFUSION
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PACKED BEDS
PARTICLES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SIMULATION
ENERGY TRANSFER
EVALUATION
HEAT TRANSFER
SORPTION
400105* - Separation Procedures
320303 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes