Modular simulation of pressure swing adsorption for hydrogen purification in compact units

Mobile polymer electrode membrane fuel cell applications require compact hydrogen purification units for the removal of CO to usually less than 10 ppm. After an introduction to pressure swing adsorption for hydrogen purification in fuel cell applications, a modular dynamic simulation approach is presented to design pressure swing adsorption plants for hydrogen purification. Two different one-dimensional fixed bed adsorber models have been applied, an isothermal adsorber model with a linear driving force correlation for mass transport to the adsorbed phase and a more detailed nonisothermal adsorber model with pressure drop. Besides, the model library contains several other modules for valves, switches, splits, joints, buffers, mass flow controllers, pumps and a timer control.