Hydrogen Purification

UOP Polybed Pressure Swing

Adsorption (PSA) Systems
Pressure Swing Adsorption systems
for gas extraction and purification
Description
The Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process is based on the principle that
adsorbents are capable of selectively adsorbing impurities.The impurities
are adsorbed in a fixed-bed adsorber at high pressure and desorbed by
swinging the adsorber from the feed to the tail gas pressure and by using
a high-purity purge. Typically the desired component is not adsorbed and
is recovered at high purity.

Operation
UOPs Polybed PSA systems are designed to be safe, efficient, and
economical. A PSA system operates as a batch process; however, multiple
adsorbers operating in a staggered sequence are used to produce constant
feed, product, and tail gas flows. Regardless of the number of adsorber
vessels, all Polybed PSA systems follow the five-step pressure-swing cycle. Proven effective and reliable technology to achieve
The red area represents the impurities, and the blue area the product. your gas separationand purification needs.

Commercial Experience F E AT U R E S & B E N E F I T S

Since commercialization in 1966, UOP has provided more than 1000 PSA
UOPs Polybed PSA system offers:
systems in more than 70 countries. These systems have found application in
the refining, petrochemical, polymer, chemical, steel, and power generation High reliability (greater than 99.95%
industries. The Polybed PSA system has demonstrated exceptional on-stream time)

economic value in many applications, such as recovery of hydrogen from Minimal manpower requirements due to
refinery off-gases, recovery of monomers in polyolefin plants, extraction of automatic operation
hydrogen from gasification syngas, purification of helium for industrial gas Reduced equipment costs and enhanced
use, adjustment of synthesis gas for ammonia production, purification performance based on high performance
adsorbents and advanced PSA cycles
of methane for petrochemicals production, and H2/CO ratio adjustment for
syngas used in the manufacture of oxo-alcohols. Lower operating and equipment costs for
downstream process units due to the availability
Feed conditions typically range from 100 to 1,000 psig (7 to 70 kg/cm2g), of a high-purity product gas
with concentrations of the desired component from 30 to 98+ mol%. Flexibility to process more than one feedstock
System capacities range from less than one to more than 350 MM SCFD and maintain product purity and recovery during
(less than 100 to more than 390,000 Nm3/h). changing conditions
Minimal feed pretreatment and utility
requirements
Long adsorbent life (>30 years)
Reduced plot requirements, fast delivery times, and
low installation costs based on the modular design
Worldwide service and support
 UOP Polybed Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Systems

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Adsorption Co-current Counter-current Purge Repressurization
depressurization depressurization From Other
Product To Next Vessel
Vessel From Other
Product To Next From Vessel
From Other PurgeFrom Other Product
Product The
To Next Product
feed gas To Next To recover the Vessel AtVessel Vessel
the conclusion The adsorbentFrom From Other The repres-
Vessel Vessel ProductFrom To Next Purge Vessel
enters an Purge product trapped From
Purge of the co-current is purged Product
with surization
Product Product Vessel From
adsorber at a in the adsorbent depressurization a high-purity
Purge Product gas is
high pressure, void spaces, step, the adsor- stream (taken provided
impurities are the adsorber is bent is partially from another from the
adsorbed, and co-currently (in regenerated by adsorber on the co-current
high-purity theFeeddirection Tail Gas counter-currently
Tail Gas co-current depressur-
product is of feed flow) Feed depressurizing
Tail Gas Tail Gas depres- ization step
Feed FeedGas
produced. Flow
Tail Tail GasTail Gas The
depressurized. Tail Gas the adsorber to the tail surization and a
Feed Tail Gas Tail Gas
is normally in product gas withdrawn gas pressure, and step) at a constant low slipstream from the
the upward direction. is used internally to thereby rejecting pressure to further product or feed. When
When an adsorber has repressurize and the impurities. regenerate the bed. the adsorber has reached
reached its adsorption purge other adsorbers. the adsorption pressure,
capacity, it is taken the cycle has been
off-line, and the feed completed and the vessel
automatically switched is ready for the next
to a fresh adsorber. adsorption step.

UOP Provides: Proprietary UOP adsorbents that enable superior

Optimized integration of PSA technology within your plant performance

Improvements to existing technology to meet your changing Automatic operation that minimizes manpower
process needs requirements

New applications to meet your new challenges Maximum production reliability due to control systems that
automatically adjust to maintain production, even during
Unparalleled international experience in project
upset conditions
development,engineering, fabrication, and technical support
Lower capital cost due to adsorbent efficiency, process
Flexibility in project execution
design and control philosophy
PSA systems optimized to customer requirements
Products and services with ISO-9001 certification
Worldwide sourcing to meet local requirements
Ongoing technical services and support after startup
Fixed pricing for accurate forecasting of project expenses
Information on the latest developments and advancements
Shop fabricated skid-mounted systems for fast on-site in our technology through seminars and conferences
nstallation and start-ups
Proven training programs
Superior quality control resulting in long-term safe, reliable
Revamp services to enable existing equipment to meet your
operation
future needs

For more information

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The information in this document
should not be construed as a
UOP LLC, A Honeywell Company representation for which UOP assumes
25 East Algonquin Road legal responsibility, or an authorization
or recommendation to practice a
Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017, U.S.A. patented invention without a license.
www.uop.com UOP4810-1c April 2016