VPSA Oxygen Production Cycle Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oxygen production from atmospheric air using VPSA units is energy-inefficient, with high energy consumption being a significant cost factor due to the need for numerous cycles and complex flow management, especially in systems with short cycle times or multiple adsorbers.
Innovation Solution
A VPSA process with a specific pressure cycle involving multiple adsorbers, where three successive oxygen-rich gas streams of decreasing purity are produced, and repressurization is achieved using streams of increasing oxygen content, optimizing energy use by simplifying the cycle and reducing the number of intermediate steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If numerous cycles and complex flow management are used in VPSA units, then oxygen purity levels are maintained, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the oxygen production process into three distinct streams of decreasing purity, each serving specific purposes in the cycle. This segmentation allows optimized use of each stream - the highest purity stream for product output, the second stream for repressurization, and the third stream for elution - thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the oxygen-rich gas streams for multiple purposes within the same system. The streams serve both as product output and as repressurization/gas source for subsequent cycles, eliminating the need for separate compression steps and reducing energy requirements while maintaining continuous production
2Productivity
If the number of adsorbers is increased to improve oxygen production capacity, then productivity increases, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a simplified adsorber configuration. By using just one or two adsorbers that perform both separation and provide multiple gas streams through controlled depressurization, the system achieves high productivity without the complexity of coordinating numerous adsorbers in traditional multi-bed configurations
3Productivity
If short cycle times are used to increase production rate, then productivity improves, but energy consumption and flow management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining constant pressure during the oxygen production phase and using controlled depressurization to generate useful gas streams. This continuous operation at optimized pressure points maintains high production rates while minimizing energy consumption associated with frequent pressure cycling
4Manufacturing precision
If traditional VPSA cycles with multiple intermediate steps are used, then oxygen purity is maintained, but energy consumption and cycle time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the three oxygen-rich streams during the adsorption and depressurization phases before product extraction begins. This allows the system to maintain high oxygen purity through controlled stream selection while reducing the number of intermediate purification steps required, thereby lowering energy consumption
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 process reduces energy consumption by streamlining the oxygen production cycle, allowing for more efficient use of adsorbers and energy resources, thereby lowering production costs while maintaining desired oxygen purity levels.
Implementation Method 1
a production step a) of a first oxygen-rich gas stream (T1) while loading upstream the adsorber with the atmospheric air stream
Implementation Method 2
a production step b) of a second oxygen-rich gas stream (T2) by depressurization of the adsorber bed
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing oxygen by adsorbing a stream of atmospheric air, using a VPSA unit comprising at least one adsorber, each adsorber undergoing a single pressure cycle comprising the following steps: a) producing a first stream of gas having an oxygen content T1 while loading the adsorber of the stream of atmospheric air upstream; b) producing a second stream of gas comprising an oxygen content T2 < T1; c) producing a third stream of gas comprising an oxygen content T3 < T2 < T1 while simultaneously extracting a nitrogen-enriched residual stream; d) eluting the adsorber, from which the three streams of gas produced in steps a), b) and c) are taken, exclusively via the second stream of gas produced in step b); e) repressuring the adsorber that underwent the elution of step d) consecutively with at least two streams, first and second repressuring streams, with increasing oxygen content, the first repressuring stream being the third stream of gas produced in step c) and the second repressuring stream being the second stream of gas produced in step b).