Page 7 - Pressure Swing Adsorption

PREFACE

coherent general account of both the technology and the underlying theorv.
Perhans more than in other processes the rational design and opt1m1zat10n of
a pressure swing adsorption process reowres a reasonably detailed mathe-
matical model. The two commonly used approaches to PSA modeling,
equilibrium theory, and dynamic numerical simulat1on are discussed m some Contents
detail m Chaoters 4 and 5. Inevitably these chapters are somewhat mathe-
matical m approach. The details may be important only to those who are
involved in orocess design and optimization but we hooe that the more
general reader will still be able to gam some mslght concerning the underly-
mg prmcmles and the strengths and lim1tat1ons of the various approaches.
A three-way collaboration between authors mevitably raises some diffi-
culties since it becomes hard to mamtain consistency m style and emphasis
and to avoid repetition between different sections of the text. We hooe,
however, that tile advantages of a more authoritative treatment of the subject
will more than comoensate for any such deficiencies. From our oersoective
the collaboration has proved interesting and instructive, and we have encoun-
tered no senous disagreements amongst ourselves.

UNB, Frectencton, Canada D. M. Ruthven
National Untversity of Singapore S. Farooq
List of Symbols XI
Adsomt1on Research Inc., Dublin, Ohi@ K. S. Knaebel
June 1993 Greek Symbols xv

Subscripts xvi•
Figure Credits xlx
1. Introduction I
1.1 Histoncat Development of PSA Processes 4
1.2 General Features of a PSA Process 5
1.3 Maior Applications of PSA 7
References 9
2. Fundamentals of Adsorption 11
2.1 Adsorbents 11
2.2 Adsorption Equilibnum 23
2.3 Adsorot1on Kinetics 34
2.4 Actsomt1on Column Dynamics 52
References 63

3. PSA Cycles: Basic Principles 67
3.1 Elementary Steos 67
3.2 Equilibnum-Controllect Separatmns for the Production
of Pure Raffinate Product 7]

vii