APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATED WITH UTILIZATION OF UOP ADSORBENTS IN THE AIR SEPARATION INDUSTRY

摘要

Thermally regenerated prepurifier systems to remove H_2O, CO_2 and other trace contaminants from the feed air stream to cryogenic recovery air separation plants can be optimized through the judicious selection of solid adsorbents installed in these systems. Combination adsorbent beds of activated alumina and molecular sieves or use of molecular sieves exclusively in air plant prepurifiers (APPU's) are appropriate depending on operating conditions. PSA (pressure swing adsorption)/VSA (vacuum swing adsorption) processes utilize molecular sieves to separate nitrogen from oxygen to produce 95%+ O_2. Efficiencies of PSA/VSA systems have improved along with a reduction in adsorbent bed sizing with the use of new generation high performance molecular sieve based adsorbents. This paper will discuss relevant adsorption application technology, compare various UOP adsorbents appropriate for use in APPU's and PSA/VSA systems as well as detail common operating problems associated with APPU's.