Pressure swing adsorption process for enhanced separation of lighter from heavier species

摘要

A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system and a PSA process including a PSA cycle schedule are disclosed. The PSA cycle schedule includes an unlimited number of equalization steps, no idle steps, no dead time and a minimum number of three PSA adsorbent beds assisted with two or more equalization tanks. The PSA system, process and cycle schedule include the following sequence of cycle steps: a feed step, two or more down equalization steps either between beds or between a bed and a tank, an optional forced cocurrent depressurization step coupled with a forced intermediary light end pressurization step, a countercurrent depressurization step, a light reflux step, two or more up equalization steps between beds or between a bed and a tank, an optional forced intermediary light end pressurization step coupled with the forced cocurrent depressurization step, and a light product pressurization step.

主权项

1. A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system comprising:
as few as three PSA beds configured with N-tanks to perform a continuous feed PSA cycle schedule with an even number (N) of light end equalization steps allowing for bed-to-tank-to-bed equalization steps and no bed-to-bed equalization steps, wherein N>2, wherein at all times during the process, each of the three beds are actively separating gases with no idle steps and no dead time, and wherein the system is capable of performing the process with only three PSA beds.