Nitrogen Generation

by Pressure Swing
Adsorption
2

Contents.

3 Introduction

4 The process

PSA process cycle

Plant control and turn down

Start-up and shut-down

Turndown operation

Operation and maintenance

Safety aspects

Safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ)

Building / shelter

8 G- series nitrogen PSA

The advantages of Linde N2-PSA

10 A- series nitrogen PSA

The N2-PSA layout

The scope of supply

Contact

Cover page: N2 PSA Plant / El Chacay / Chile / Minera Los Pelambres

 3

Introduction.

The experience
The use of the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process
has seen tremendously growth during the last decades
mainly due to its simplicity and low operating costs. Major
applications have been the recovery of high purity hydrogen,
methane and carbon dioxide as well as the generation of
nitrogen and oxygen. In addition, it has gained significance
for the bulk removal of carbon dioxide from direct reduction
top-gases.

Linde as the world leader in adsorption technology has

designed and supplied more than 500 PSA plants - including
the world´s largest units and units with highest availability.
The Linde nitrogen PSA generators
The Linde nitrogen PSA generators are designed Depending on client needs, the PSA plant can The nitrogen product is normally delivered
for onstream applications, where there is need be designed for nitrogen product purity in the between 4 barg to 9 barg (60 psig to 130 psig).
for clean, dry nitrogen of high purity for inerting, range of a few percent oxygen content or with In case a higher product pressure is required
blanketing and purging. oxygen content in the ppmv level. a downstream nitrogen compressor will be
applied.
The capacities of the Linde nitrogen PSA gen- Linde N2-PSA systems are available
erators range from small plants with product in two plant series: Linde´s PSA systems have proven to be success-
requirements of only several Nm³/h, up to ful in cases where performance, flexibility,
large-scale plants with several thousand Nm³/h – The G-series, fully standardized with a range availability and reliability are the determining
nitrogen product flows. of 26 capacity types. factors. High quality and easy accessibility to
all components minimize and facilitate main-
– The A-series, a tailored modular plant series tenance to the maximum extent.
that features highest capacities and purities.
This series can be supplied to the needs of
customer‘s specifications.
3
4

The process.
The separation of nitrogen and oxygen from
air takes place in an adsorber vessel filled with
carbon molecular sieve.
This is based on the fact of faster kinetic diffu-
sion of oxygen molecules into the pore struc-
ture of the carbon molecular sieve than for
nitrogen molecules.

Pressure time diagram for nitrogen PSA process Carbon molecular sieve

Adsorber A
A: Pressure equalization
Pressure

C B: Back purge step

B D C: Nitrogen production
D: Pressure equalization
E: Depressurization

Adsorber B

Time

atmosphere
Adsorber A
Air
compressor
Air
PSA process cycle
The PSA process cycle consists of two key
mechanisms:
– Pressurisation/adsorption
– Depressurisation/desorption
Compressed air alternately pressurises each
of two identical adsorber beds. Beginning at
a point in the cycle where one adsorber bed (A)
is being pressurised and the other adsorber bed
(B) is undergoing depressurisation, the descrip-
tion of the PSA process cycle is as follows:
As compressed air enters adsorber bed A, mois-
ture, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are adsorbed.
After operating pressure is reached, nitrogen
to
Waste
Silencer Adsorber B
product flows from adsorber bed A into a nitro-
gen product receiver prior to entering the pro-
duct piping. Simultaneously, adsorber bed B is
depressurised to atmospheric pressure.
Upon completion of nitrogen production from
adsorber bed A, an equalisation step occurs.
Adsorber bed B (atmospheric pressure) is pres-
surised to an intermediate pressure as the gas
remaining in adsorber bed A (at operating pres-
sure) flows into adsorber bed B. During this step,
air is not consumed nor is product gas generated.
Therefore a nitrogen receiver is applied to allow
for a constant flow, purity and pressure of the
nitrogen product throughout the PSA cycle.
Adsorber bed A then undergoes depressurisa-
5
PSA N2-buffer
O2-analyzer
AE
Nitrogen
Compressed air
Nitrogen
Waste gas
Typical process flow diagram of a
Linde nitrogen PSA plant
tion and the oxygen enriched waste gas is
vented to the atmosphere. Depressurisation
permits the release of oxygen, carbon dioxide,
and water vapor previously adsorbed during
nitrogen production from adsorber bed A. At the
same time, adsorber bed B is brought to opera-
ting pressure, and begins its nitrogen production
portion of the cycle.
Following nitrogen production, adsorber bed B
undergoes equalisation and subsequent de-
pressurisation. The cycle continues at the point
where adsorber bed A undergoes pressurisation
and adsorber bed B is depressurised.
6

Plant control and turn down Start-up and shut-down Turndown operation
The N2-PSA plant is controlled by a programm- The start-up of the plant is a simple push button The plant flowrate can be reduced by inserting
able logic controller (PLC). operation. The product is being delivered within an “idle” step in the cycle thus saving plant
a short time from start-up. power.
Its main control features include:
– Automatic operation of the entire N2-PSA At shut-down of the plant, a precisely defined This is performed automatically by the PLC.
plant programme cycle continues to run for a few The PLC program adjusts process parameters
– Supervision of process parameters with safety minutes before complete shut-down is reached. accordingly.
shut down and alarm in case of abnormal The adsorbers are then in regenerated condi-
plant operation tions and prepared for restart of operation. After
– Control of the process values on a display restart product in accordance with specification
– Sophisticated plant diagnostics can be produced within a few minutes.

The (im)purity of the product is being checked

continuously by an automatic online O2-analyzer.

Typical A-series nitrogen PSA

 7

Refinery

Glass Metals
Purging Preserving

Treating Blanketing

Petro- LINDE N2-PSA Oil & gas

chemical
APPLICATIONS
Storing Filling

Spinning Inerting
Chemical Food

Electronics

Application of PSA generated Nitrogen

Operation and maintenance Safety aspects Building/shelter

The LINDE N2-PSA plant is designed to run un-
attended during normal operation. The plant
requires a minimum of operating and mainte-
nance attention. The N2-PSA will be designed
and constructed to provide proper flexibility and
easy accessibility for operation and maintenance
of the machinery, valves and instrumentation.
The plant operates at moderate temperatures
and pressures. All necessary safety devices to
avoid increased pressures, excessive or insuf-
ficient temperature or other failure functions
are provided.
Safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ)
Controls relating to safety, health, environment
and quality are a pre-requisite for the Linde
work processes.
Due to the severe ambient conditions and in or-
der to protect the PSA unit from driving rain and
direct sunlight, it is strongly recommended to
install the PSA unit in a closed shelter, at least a
roof covering the valve skid and the compressor
shall be supplied.
8

G-series nitrogen PSA.

The G-series comprises fully standardized The product ranges for the G-series plants are:
nitrogen PSA generators with 26 plant sizes
and hence providing optimal solution within
N2-product range 50 - 1,500 Nm³/h
its product range and purity.
Nitrogen (N2 +Ar) purity 97 - 99.9 %
Particular features of G-series nitrogen PSA
Oxygen impurity 3 - 0.1 %
– Fully standardized
– Low investment
– Compact arrangement
– Existing standard documentation
– Short delivery, installation and
commissioning time

Typical G-series nitrogen PSA plant for the generation of

nitrogen, 310 Nm³/h, 0.5% O2
 9

A-series nitrogen PSA plant designed according to

individual project specification

A-series Nitrogen PSA

The product ranges for the A-series plants are:
The A-series comprise fully tailored nitrogen
PSA generators. With its A-series PSA plants
Linde is able to follow individual customers N2-product capacity 50 - 5,000 Nm³/h
project specifications, standards and require-
Nitrogen (N2 +Ar) purity 97 - 99.9999 %
ments. (e.g. for refineries etc.)
Oxygen impurity 3 % - 1 ppm
Particular features of A-series nitrogen PSA
– Tailor made according to individual project
specifications and requirements
– High capacity and purity range
– Modular and prefabricated design
10

The advantages of Linde N2-PSA

The Linde PSA process for the generation of Highest reliability Fully automatic operation
nitrogen provides remarkable advantages: – The PSA system provides highest reliability. – The PLC based control system controls the
The control system allows for the production purity and the flow by automatically adjusting
First quality of nitrogen at the specified flow and purity the cycle time of the PSA system.
– Only components are used which have proven within minutes of demand using simple push A modbus port for the communication with a
highest durability. button. plantwide DCS and/or a communication board
for the remote control by a modem can be
Low nitrogen product cost Easy turn-down supplied as an option.
– The Linde PSA system produces high purity – Excellent flexibility to match actual client
nitrogen at lowest cost compared to convent- needs are achieved with the PSA system as Modular skid design
ional cryogenic units or liquids supplied from it provides a turn-down ratio between 0% – The shop fabricated valve skid design reduces
outside. and 100% at unchanged purity and at nearly the on-site costs for erection and commissio-
proportional energy consumption. ning.

Easy maintenance
– Only routine maintenance is required.
All components are easily accessible.

Typical G-series nitrogen PSA plant

mounted in a container

The N2-PSA layout
All components on the skid – including nitrogen
product analyzer and control system – are com-
pletely piped and wired for quick assembly at
the job site.
The Linde N2-PSA nitrogen generators can be
designed for indoor or outdoor installation.
11
A-series nitrogen PSA plant with high pressure
nitrogen storage
The scope of supply
The scope of supply mainly comprises the
following material and equipment:
– Air compressor, if required
– Adsorber vessels
– Specially selected adsorbent material
– PSA buffer drum
– Valve skid
– Control system
– Nitrogen product O2-analyzer
– Nitrogen product compressor, if required
Heavy industrial standard for LINDE nitrogen PSA plants
Designing Processes - Constructing Plants.

Linde´s Engineering Division continuously develops extensive process engineering know-how in the planning,
project management and construction of turnkey industrial plants.

The range of products comprises: Linde and its subsidiaries manufacture:

− Petrochemical plants − Packaged units, cold boxes

− LNG and natural gas processing plants − Coil-wound heat exchangers
− Synthesis gas plants − Plate-fin heat exchangers
− Hydrogen plants − Cryogenic standard tanks
− Gas processing plants − Air heated vaporizers
− Adsorption plants − Spiral-welded aluminium pipes
− Air separation plants
− Cryogenic plants
− Biotechnological plants
− Furnaces for petrochemical plants and refineries

More than 3,800 plants worldwide document the leading position of the Engineering Division in international plant construction.

Engineering Division
Schalchen Plant
Tacherting, Germany
Phone +49.8621.85-0
Fax +49.8621.85-6620
plantcomponents@linde-le.com
Linde-KCA-Dresden GmbH
Dresden, Germany
Phone +49.351.250-30
Fax +49.351.250-4800
lkca.dresden@linde-kca.com
Selas-Linde GmbH
Pullach, Germany
Phone +49.89.7447-470
Fax +49.89.7447-4717
selas-linde@linde-le.com
Cryostar SAS
Hésingue, France
Phone +33.389.70-2727
Fax +33.389.70-2777
info@cryostar.com
Linde CryoPlants Ltd.
Aldershot, Great Britain
Phone +44.1.252.3313-51
Fax +44.1.252.3430-62
info@linde-lcl.com
Linde Impianti Italia S.p.A.
Rome, Italy
Phone +39.066.5613-1
Fax +39.066.5613-200
r.tikovsky@lindeimpianti.it
Linde Kryotechnik AG
Pfungen, Switzerland
Phone +41.52.3040-555
Fax +41.52.3040-550
info@linde-kryotechnik.ch
Cryo AB
Göteborg, Sweden
Phone +46.3164-6800
Fax +46.3164-2220
gunnar.lenneras@cryo.aga.com
Linde Process Plants, Inc.
Tulsa, OK, U.S.A.
Phone +1.918.4771-200
Fax +1.918.4771-100
sales@lppusa.com
Selas Fluid Processing Corp.
Blue Bell, PA, U.S.A.
Phone +1.610.834-0300
Fax +1.610.834-0473
john.mcdermott@selasfluid.com
Linde Engenharia do Brasil Ltda.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Phone +55.21.3545-2255
Fax +55.21.3545-2257
jaime.basurto@linde.com
Linde Process Plants (Pty.) Ltd.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Phone +27.11.490-0513
Fax +27.11.490-0412
lindepp@global.co.za
Linde-KCA Russia Branch
Moscow, Russia
Phone +7.495.646-5242
Fax +7.795.646-5243
dirk.westphal@linde-kca.com
Linde Arabian Contracting Co. Ltd.
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Phone +966.1.419-1193
Fax +966.1.419-1384
linde-ksa@linde-le.com
Linde Engineering Middle East LLC
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Phone +971.2.4477-631
Fax +971.2.4475-953
linde@emirates.net.ae
Linde Engineering India Pvt. Ltd.
Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Phone +91.265.3056-789
Fax +91.265.2335-213
sales@linde-le.com
Linde Engineerig Far East, Ltd.
Seoul, South Korea
Phone +82.2789-6697
Fax +82.2789-6698
hanyong.lee@linde.com
Linde Engineering Division
Bangkok, Thailand
Phone +66.2636-1998
Fax +66.2636-1999
anuwat.krongkrachang@linde.com
Linde Engineering Co. Ltd.
Dalian, P.R. of China
Phone +86.411.39538-800
Fax +86.411.39538-855
jochen.nippel@lindeleh.com
Linde Engineering Co. Ltd.
Hangzhou, P.R. of China
Phone +86.571.87858-222
Fax +86.571.87858-200
hangzhou.leh@lindeleh.com
HA/N/1.1.e/09
Linde Engineering Division
Beijing Representative Office
Beijing, P.R. of China
Phone +86.10.6437-7014
Fax +86.10.6437-6718
linde@public.bta.net.cn
Linde AG Taiwan Branch
Engineering Division
Taipei, Taiwan
Phone +886.2.2786-3131
Fax +886.2.2652-5871
bernhard.puerzer@linde-le.com
Linde Australia Pty. Ltd.
Chatswood N.S.W., Australia
Phone +61.29411-4111
Fax +61.29411-1470
willy.dietrich@linde.com.au

Engineering Division headquarters:

Linde AG
Engineering Division, Dr.-Carl-von-Linde-Str. 6-14, 82049 Pullach, Germany
Phone +49.89.7445-0, Fax +49.89.7445-4908, E-Mail: info@linde-le.com, www.linde.com