Pressure Swing Adsorption Phase Time Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
PSA units operating under non-nominal conditions are oversized, leading to reduced hydrogen production and increased specific costs due to inefficient regulation of pressure cycles, which fails to maintain optimal purity and yield.
Innovation Solution
A pressure modulated adsorption process that adjusts pressure cycle phases to maintain the phase time within ±5% of nominal conditions by modifying pressures between high and low cycle pressures, optimizing the quantity and quality of elution gas to enhance extraction yield and reduce feed gas requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PSA units operate under non-nominal conditions with traditional regulation, then the unit is oversized, but hydrogen production decreases and specific costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pressure cycle parameters adjustable and adaptive to operating conditions. The phase time is dynamically regulated to remain within ±5% of nominal values by modifying pressures between high and low cycle pressures, allowing the PSA unit to optimize performance across varying feed flow rates and compositions rather than operating in a fixed, oversized configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by specifically adjusting pressure parameters (pressures between high and low cycle pressures) to maintain optimal phase time. This allows the system to adapt to non-nominal operating conditions while preserving hydrogen production efficiency and reducing specific costs
2Adaptability or versatility
If PSA units operate under non-nominal conditions with traditional regulation, then the unit is oversized, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic regulation of phase time through pressure modification enables the system to operate efficiently at varying load conditions, avoiding the energy waste associated with oversized units running at partial capacity. This maintains optimal thermodynamic conditions across different operating scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
By changing pressure parameters to maintain nominal phase time, the system optimizes energy utilization and reduces operational costs under non-nominal conditions
3Ease of operation
If pressure cycle parameters are not adjusted under non-nominal conditions, then operation is simple, but purity and yield optimization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by regulating phase time based on operating conditions. The system monitors and adjusts pressure parameters to maintain phase time within ±5% of nominal values, automatically optimizing purity and yield without requiring complex manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic adjustment of pressure parameters maintains both operational simplicity and manufacturing precision through controlled parameter modification
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases hydrogen production efficiency, reduces the quantity of feed gas needed, and lowers operational costs by optimizing the PSA unit's performance under varying operating conditions while maintaining product purity.
Implementation Method 1
a) adsorption at the high pressure of the cycle with production of the gas flow enriched in compound X
Implementation Method 2
PSA units are commonly used for the separation and/or purification of feed gases
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of pressure swing adsorption (PSA) for producing a gas stream enriched in a compound X from a feed gas stream, implementing at least 2 adsorbers, each adsorber being subjected to a pressure cycle having a high pressure and a low pressure and comprising the following successive steps: a) adsorption at the high pressure of the cycle, producing the gas stream enriched in compound X, b) depressurisation to the low pressure of the cycle, producing at least a part of an elution gas, c) elution at the low pressure by means of the elution gas, d) repressurisation to the high pressure, characterised in that: the pressure cycle has a phase time corresponding to the duration of a pressure cycle divided by the number of adsorbers, and the pressure of the pressure cycle located between the high pressure and the low pressure of the pressure cycle is modified so as to keep the phase time of the PSA equal to or within ± 5% of the nominal phase time, corresponding to the phase time of the PSA in design conditions, during at least a part of the range of variation of the operating conditions.