Abstract: The invention maintains a nearly constant cycle pressure ratio along with a balancing of the adsorbent vessel effluents in a pressure swing adsorption process. The invention monitors cycle pressure ratio and subsequently alters the cycle step times and flows to sustain its value, thereby maximizing plant performance and avoiding unnecessary shutdowns. Maintaining a nearly constant pressure ratio assures that the plant production is optimized and that power consumption is minimized. The balancing of the adsorbent vessel effluents, using the corresponding waste purities, is used to further improve plant production.

Abstract: The invention comprises a pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of a less adsorbable component from a mixture comprising the less adsorbable component and a more adsorbable component, the process comprising a cyclic adsorption/desorption process wherein the desorption step is at a selected pressure and occurs for a selected time such that a pressure reducing apparatus utilized to evacuate the gas does not require extraneous cooling.

Abstract: A vacuum pressure swing adsorbent (VPSA) system and method for separating a component from a fluid mixture and including a fluid source for introducing the mixture into the system and a supply apparatus for collecting the separated component. A pair of adsorbent bed vessels is interposed between the fluid source and the supply apparatus to adsorb and desorb a predetermined component under respective adsorption and desorption pressures characterized by a low pressure ratio and relatively high desorption pressure values. Implementation of a single-stage vacuum device made possible by the use of the high desorption pressure, results in further reduction in both equipment and operating costs.