At present, nitrogen production from air by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is simulated almost exclusively at low product purity levels (< 99% N₂). However, with increasing global demand for highly purified gases provided by energy-efficient separation processes the requirement for either extensive experimental research in the high-purity range or predictive computer simulations arises. This paper presents a mathematical model of a twin-bed PSA plant equipped with a carbon molecular sieve (Shirasagi MSC CT-350) for the generation of high-purity nitrogen (99.9–99.999% N₂). The model is implemented in the process simulator Aspen Adsorption™. The influence of operating conditions as well as the cycle organisation on the process performance is validated, especially the influence of pressure, temperature, half-cycle time, purge flow rate, and cutting time. The precision of the performance prediction by numerical simulations is critically discussed. Based on the new insights efficiency improvement strategies with a focus on reduced energy consumption are introduced and discussed by means of radar charts.

目前，几乎仅以较低的产品纯度水平（<99％N ₂）模拟了通过变压吸附（PSA）从空气中产生氮气的过程。但是，随着全球对由高能效分离工艺提供的高纯度气体的需求不断增长，对高纯度范围内的广泛实验研究或预测性计算机模拟的需求不断增加。本文介绍了配备有碳分子筛（Shirasagi MSC CT-350）的双床PSA设备的数学模型，该设备用于生成高纯度氮（99.9–99.999％N ₂）。该模型在过程仿真器Aspen Adsorption™中实现。验证了操作条件以及循环组织对过程性能的影响，尤其是压力，温度，半循环时间，吹扫流速和切割时间的影响。通过数值模拟对性能预测的精度进行了严格的讨论。基于新的见解，通过雷达图介绍并讨论了以降低能耗为重点的效率改进策略。