Ambient pressure optimizing of SBRB VSA ASU

摘要

The air separation unit includes a single adsorption bed downstream of a reversing blower and configured to operate on the principle of vacuum swing adsorption. An optimal ambient air pressure to vacuum pressure ratio within an adsorber vessel downstream of the reversible blower is identified. When the air separation unit is operated at ambient conditions where ambient air pressure is different, such as at higher altitude (or lower altitude) a pressure ratio across the blower when drawing a vacuum on the adsorption bed is maintained for optimal blower power to oxygen production performance. Time for recovery of the adsorption bed can also be modified due to the lower absolute pressure achieved within the adsorption bed when the pressure ratio across the blower is maintained. An ASU is thus provided which is optimized for performance at various different altitudes without requiring modification of equipment within the ASU.

主权项

1. A single bed reversing blower vacuum swing adsorption air separation unit optimized for high altitude operation, comprising in combination:
a ambient air inlet; a reversible blower downstream of said ambient air inlet, said reversible blower coupled to a motor which drives said reversible blower in either a production direction to add pressure to ambient air entering said reversible blower from said ambient air inlet or dropping pressure downstream of said reversible blower by drawing gas through said reversible blower and out of said ambient air inlet; an adsorption bed downstream of said reversible blower, said adsorption bed containing adsorption media therein which preferentially adsorbs N2 over O2; an O2 output downstream of said adsorption bed; an adsorption bed pressure sensor; and a controller receiving a pressure signal from said adsorption bed sensor and providing a control signal to said reversible blower, said control signal causing said reversible blower to draw a vacuum pressure within said adsorption bed which causes an ambient-to-vacuum pressure ratio to match an optimal pressure ratio across said reversible blower.