Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA)  [ Return towards  Equipment  ]

Since 1962, Air Liquide has been operating hydrogen Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) units. PSA units have a high turndown ratio and can maintain both recovery and product purity by automatically adjusting cycle times. Adsorbents are selected according to the nature of the impurities that need to be removed from the hydrogen-containing streams and their capacity to offer a long cycle life.

 

PSA units can be designed to achieve up to 99.9999 % hydrogen purity. Hydrogen recovery can vary between 50 % and over 95 %. The result is a function of the purity of the incoming stream, off-gas pressure and recycling. Operating pressures range between 5 and 50 Bar and hydrogen is usually recovered with a minimal pressure loss of 1 Bar. Air Liquide can design units from 100 Nm³/h (85,000 scfd) to 100,000 Nm³/h (85,000,000 scfd).

 

Typical purification applications in a refinery include:

·          Catalytic reformer off-gas;

·          Hydrotreater purge gases;

·          Refinery fuel gas stream;

·          Syngas from steam methane reformers;

·          Syngas purification from a partial oxidation unit;

·          Ethylene off-gas (integrated with a refinery);

·          Styrene off-gas (integrated with a refinery);

·          Coke oven gas; and

·          Ammonia plant off-gas (integrated with a refinery).

 

We can help you decide on the most appropriate hydrogen purification and recovery technology for your objectives.