Rapid Cycle PSA Adsorber Using Thin Sheet Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (PSA) systems for hydrogen production from syngas mixtures are limited in reducing the size and cost of adsorber beds while maintaining high hydrogen recovery and low carbon monoxide levels, particularly for applications like fuel cell power generation where space and efficiency are critical.
Innovation Solution
A rapid cycle PSA apparatus with multiple thin adsorbent sheet materials in adsorber elements, achieving a bed size factor of less than 4.0 seconds, which reduces the size of the PSA system while maintaining hydrogen recovery greater than 70% and carbon monoxide levels below 50 ppm, utilizing adsorbent materials like zeolite molecular sieves and activated carbon with specific surface areas and additives for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If conventional PSA systems use traditional adsorbent beds to purify hydrogen from syngas, then hydrogen purification can be achieved, but the system size and capital cost are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and surface area parameters of the adsorbent material by using thin sheet materials with high surface area to volume ratio, replacing traditional bulk adsorbent beds. This parameter change enables achieving the same purification performance with significantly reduced system volume, directly resolving the contradiction between system size and performance reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite thin sheet materials combining multiple adsorbent components (such as zeolite, activated carbon, and other adsorbents) in layered structures. These composite materials achieve superior hydrogen recovery and carbon monoxide removal performance while maintaining reduced system size, simultaneously improving both performance and compactness
2Volume of stationary object
If rapid cycle PSA is used to reduce adsorber volume, then system size decreases, but maintaining high hydrogen recovery and low carbon monoxide levels becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface area to volume ratio parameter of the adsorbent material by using thin sheet structures, which dramatically increases the effective adsorption surface area within a reduced volume. This enables rapid cycle PSA to maintain high hydrogen recovery (greater than 70%) and low carbon monoxide levels (below 50 ppm) despite the smaller adsorber volume, resolving the contradiction between system miniaturization and purification precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thin sheet adsorbent materials with highly porous structures that provide extensive internal surface area for adsorption. These porous materials enable rapid and efficient adsorption/desorption cycles, maintaining high hydrogen recovery and effective carbon monoxide removal while achieving reduced adsorber volume, thus resolving the contradiction between rapid cycling capability and purification performance
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
The solution effectively reduces the size and cost of PSA systems while achieving high hydrogen recovery and low carbon monoxide levels, suitable for fuel cell applications, with experimental results showing over 99% hydrogen purity and less than 50 ppm carbon monoxide, and further embodiments achieving less than 10 ppm carbon monoxide.
Implementation Method 1
rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (PSA) systems for separation of syngas mixtures
Implementation Method 2
adsorbing at least one relatively strongly adsorbed component at an elevated pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a rapid cycle PSA apparatus are described that are useful for producing a hydrogen enriched product gas comprising not more than about 50 ppm carbon monoxide by volume and with a hydrogen gas recovery of at least about 70% by adsorptive separation from a syngas feed gas mixture comprising at least about 50 percent hydrogen and at least about 1 percent carbon monoxide by volume. One disclosed embodiment of a rapid cycle PSA apparatus comprised at least 3 adsorber elements each having at least one thin adsorbent sheet material which comprises at least one adsorbent material therein, and a bed size factor less than about 4.0 seconds. Embodiments of a rapid cycle PSA process also are described that utilize disclosed embodiments of the rapid-cycle PSA device.