Has anyone used software to simulate pressure swing adsorption?

It is said that a company in Canada has developed simulation software for the pressure swing adsorption process, which has reached commercial readiness. There is no similar software available in the country; only small software for demonstrating the process exists.

It is very difficult to truly achieve software-based simulation of pressure swing adsorption. The common approach used at present is to artificially set the distribution coefficients of various components in the product gas and the desorbed gas based on the feed materials and separation requirements, which has little practical value.

Since it can be set manually, there must be a principle behind such setting, that is, experience; therefore, there must be a calculation method for determining the composition ratios of gases. By formulating this into an equation and adjusting other relevant parameters, software simulation can be carried out. However, these values are based on experience, and it’s not easy to determine them accurately, as the engineering data available is limited. As a result, the differences between the simulated results and actual conditions are significant. Moreover, the adsorbents used in real-world applications often differ from those used in simulations, which further complicates the process. Nevertheless, simulation is feasible, and it is an inevitable outcome of the development of PSA technology. Ultimately, any mature and successful technology will end up being implemented through computer software simulations. Last edited by Uncivilized on 2008-9-23 11:00

PSA is a dynamic process (involving the alternating use of multiple units), unlike other operational units such as heat exchangers and membrane units, which can operate continuously with a single unit. Most common process simulation software is still focused on steady-state scenarios, with not much functionality for dynamic simulation... Go and ask in the engineering software simulation section; there might be people familiar with that software who have done it before. Personally, I think it’s a bit difficult to achieve this directly with existing software; but if one knows how to program and can manipulate the software dynamically, it should be possible to solve the problem mentioned by the original poster. It’s quite difficult~!

It can be simulated using software; our team has developed its own software, but it still has a coding interface rather than a graphical one, which many people are not used to.

Was the software upstairs written in FORTRAN?

Pressure swing adsorption can be simulated using software (such as gPROMS, ASPEN Adsim).

Written in FORTRAN

I just received a process package, from within China~~ The construction drawings will be ready by the end of the year~~ for pressure swing adsorption! I’ll keep in touch once it’s done. The process package has already been reviewed!:handshake