Modern Approaches to Development of Flexible Pressure Swing Adsorption Units for Separation of Hydrogen-Containing Gaseous Mixtures

A new approach to the development of a methodology for the integrated design of cyclic adsorption processes and installations for separating multicomponent gas mixtures (in the presence of uncertainty in some of the initial data during design) is presented, forming the prerequisites for effective control and automation. The article describes the composition of a problem-oriented hardware and software complex intended for conducting pre-project scientific research and preparing initial data for design and substantiation of the adoption of design solutions in the hardware and technological design of cyclic adsorption processes and installations (for separating hydrogen-containing gas mixtures and concentrating high-purity hydrogen gas, widely used in various industries and the social sphere). The problem statements for one- and two-stage optimal design of flexible multi-adsorber pressure swing adsorption (PSA) units are formulated, and engineering algorithms are developed that allow optimal design decisions to be made to ensure safe and optimal (in terms of minimum reduced costs, cost price of manufactured products, and other performance indicators) operation of pressure swing adsorption units.