The Methodology of Gas Adsorption Process Design

Abstract

This project addresses the strategic R&D needs of the European process industries in the field of low energy separation processes, specifically the topic of gas adsorption. The energy requirement of separation processes in the chemical and allied industries can account for as much as 40% of total manufacturing costs, therefore any reduction in the energy consumption of separation stages has a major impact on the overall cost of final products. This programme of work on gas phase adsorption consists of a co-ordinated series of research projects aimed at improving the energy efficiency of methods used to separate and recover gaseous products, or to eliminate pollutants before gases are discharged to the atmosphere. The projects are essentially pre-competitive, fundamental research, the results of which could have applications in a wide range of process industries.

The work falls into two categories; the development of improved methods for obtaining reliable basic data, and the development of improved methods to aid process design. The projects concerning basic data investigate the equilibria and kinetics of single-phase and multi-component systems, to develop new techniques for measuring these properties, and to provide better information for process design models. The work on process design is aimed at a better understanding of discrete steps in the adsorption cycle, and includes studies of pressure swing systems and non-isothermal systems. The data generated by the first set of projects provide valuable input for these models. The process design studies also include experiments to validate models, both under controlled laboratory conditions and at pilot plant scale.