ADSORBENT REPLACEMENT IN CRYOGENIC AIR SEPARATION UNITS

Abstract

Front-end purification units (FEPUs) are a part of modern air separation units (ASUs). The quality of air purification from impurities significantly affects both the performance of ASUs and the provision of their safe operation. FEPUs are being constantly improved as new and more effective adsorbents are being used. Implementation of technological regulations of the process of adsorbent regeneration can significantly prolong its service life. However, there comes a time when you need to replace the existing adsorbents.  Processes of adsorption of water and carbon dioxide using various adsorbents are considered in the paper; factors reducing their adsorption capacity are mentioned; characteristics of new types of adsorbents are presented. By analyzing the characteristics of the adsorbents used for air drying and its purification from CO2, we have selected the most efficient zeolite 13X APG-III, manufactured by «Honeywell UOP». The adsorbent is a molecular sieve with the adsorption capacity for CO2 1.7 times higher than the standard zeolite 13X. This allows its use to replace the exhausted adsorbent while achieving a number of advantages.