AIChE Journal, Vol.44, No.6, 1325-1334, 1998
Adsorption dynamics of a layered bed PSA for H-2 recovery from coke oven gas
The adsorption dynamics of a layered bed packed with activated carbon and zeolite 5A were studied experimentally and theoretically through breakthrough experiments and two-bed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) processes by using coke oven gas (56.4 vol. % H-2; 26.6 vol % CH4; 8.4 vol. % CO; 5.5 vol. % N-2; and 3.1 vol. % CO2). The results of breakthrough curves of a layered bed showed an intermediate behavior of those of zeolite-5A bed and activated carbon bed, because each concentration front propagates with its own wavefront velocity in each layer by a different adsorption equilibrium. Since a fast and dispersed mass-transfer zone of CO in the zeolite layer of a layered bed leads to a long leading front of the N-2 wavefront controlling the leading wavefront of the N-2 plays a very important role in obtaining a high-purity product and in determining the optimum carbon ratio of a PSA process for H-2 recovery from coke-oven gas. The layered bed PSA process was simulated in a simplified form of two single-adsorbent beds linked in series. The dynamic model incorporating mass energy, and momentum balances agreed well with the experimental data. Concentration profiles inside the adsorption bed were also investigated.
Keywords:PRESSURE SWING ADSORPTION;5A MOLECULAR-SIEVE;BULK SEPARATION;ELEVATED PRESSURES;ACTIVATED-CARBON;FIXED-BED;MIXTURES;DIFFUSION;PERFORMANCE;MODELS