Experimental study of pressure swing adsorption: oxygen and nitrogen separation from air

Abstract

This study aims to tackle the problem of having a lack of enriched-nitrogen atmosphere, with the study of pressure swing adsorption. The research objectives are to: 1) Identify parameters affecting the results of pressure swing adsorption. 2) Through the parameters, to obtain the highest oxygen purity. 3) Recommendations to improve the current setup for pressure swing adsorption. Through literature review, including past research revolving around pressure swing adsorption, pressure swing adsorption is discovered to be affected by adsorption time, the pressure of the feed gas, pressurization time, volume flow rate and purge flow rate. These parameters are then studied and experimented with in detail, to obtain maximized oxygen purity. A pressure swing adsorption setup is used in this setup, with zeolites already inside the adsorption beds. With the help of the literature review, together with the programmable logic controller ladder diagram and needle valve, change the values of the parameters stated above, and improve the pressure swing adsorption results, finding the optimal values from each parameter, using a fixed setting for pressure swing adsorption. The optimal settings are then discovered, with a 2s adsorption time, pressure of gas feed having a pressure of 2 bar going into the adsorption bed, pressurization time of 0.2 s, volume flow rate of 4.3 l/min going into the adsorption bed, and purge flow rate of 4.8 l/min. After which, pressure swing adsorption will run with having all the parameters with all the optimal value, to obtain the most optimal result for pressure swing adsorption, with a reading of 85.11% oxygen purity. A few recommendations are then given for future researchers that will be planning to take on similar projects as this study, to help them with kickstarting their research and hopefully improving what they have been working on.