Simulation and analysis of pressure swing adsorption: ethanol drying process by the electrical analogue.

One column pressure swing adsorption (PSA) for dehydration of mixture of ethanol 93.54% and water 6.46% (wt) was simulated numerically by the electrical analogue model at feed pressure 2.0-5.0 bar, operating temperature 120-150 degreesC, and vacuum desorption. Increasing feed pressure may increase recovery and productivity. An anisotropic valve connecting the column entrance with the product tank may improve the operating results to obtain 99.9% ethanol at feed pressure 3.5 bar. Vacuum desorption may raise product purity and recovery to obtain 99.9 ethanol and 60% recovery at feed pressure 2.0 bar and blowdown to 0.4 bar. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.