A high-productivity PSA process configuration for H2 purification

Abstract

This work proposes a 10-bed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process configuration for H2 production, which allows extended purification time using purge tanks to completely regenerate the adsorption beds. Meanwhile, it divides the ten beds into two series at the purge step to improve the process stability. The process was simulated using the commercial software Aspen Adsorption, and evaluated by means of performance indicators and profiles of variables. It is proved that the purge tank can improve considerable flexibility in designing PSA configuration and significantly boost productivity. In addition, this work investigated the effect of the purge-to-feed (P/F) ratio and the tank volume. The novel configuration applied for H2 production from steam methane reforming (SMR) at 22 bar can provide 99.9918%-purity H2 with 87.63% recovery, and productivity up to 7.82 mol H2/(kgads⋅h). Compared to the direct coupling of the two adsorption beds at the purge step in the reported process, the production capacity increases by 50%.