Regeneration Strategies of Air-Purification TSA Process for Cryogenic Air Distillation Plant

Since the regeneration step in the Temperature Swing Adsorption (TSA) process requires time enough to heat and cool the bed, it is often the time-limiting step in the TSA cycle and it consumes a huge amount of energy for regeneration. Therefore, a valid management of the regeneration process can minimize the energy consumption of the TSA process which is involved with regeneration time, purge gas requirements, and heat load. Simulation software was developed for industrial scale bed of TSA. A new isotherm equation which performs well in predicting experiment data was extended to multi-component form and then used to interpret the adsorption equilibria of water vapor and carbon dioxide on adsorbents. Preliminary linear drive force mass transfer coefficients and the heat transfer coefficients were calculated by empirical equations and then refined by matching breakthrough curves obtained from industrial field process monitoring to theoretical curves. Under a wide range of regeneration conditions, the temperature effluence and breakthrough were drawn and studied. With the application of this simulation software, the performance and operation data of the TSA beds under various conditions can be obtained conveniently. This enables the manager to minimize their TSA’s heat consumption.