Abstract:
The aim of this research is to develop the mathematical model for simulating
the pressure swing adsorption process and for finding the range of proper operating
condition for pure oxygen production. The mathematical model with a set of partial
differential equations was developed and was solved by the method of line using
Matlab®. The simulation results was compared with those of Mendes et. al. at 22
operating conditions. The difference in simulated purity as 0.79% on the average
(2.28% max), and the difference in simulated recovery is 6.54% on the average
(6.54% max), indicating that the developed model yields an acceptable prediction.
The developed model was further use for simulating a commercial scale pressure
swing adsorption process. The variables examined were: adsorption pressure (2.5, 4,
5.5 and 7 bar), production flowrate (5, 10, 15 and 20 liters per minute), purge flowrate
(30, 40, 50 and 60 liters per minute) and adsorption time (40, 50, 60 and 70 seconds).
The optimal operating condition was at an adsorption pressure of 7 bar, production
flowrate 5 liters per minute, purge flowrate of 50 liters per minute and adsorption time
at 60 second, yielding 95% oxygen purity and 16% oxygen recovery. Finally, the effect
of adsorbent characteristics was studied using five commercial zeolites. NSA z 700
was found to give the highest performance with the oxygen purity and recovery at 98%
and 38%, respectively, at an adsorption pressure of 7 bar, production flowrate of
10 liters per minute, purge flowrate of 50 liters per minute and adsorption time at
60 second