In
order to help our client to solve catalyst contamination issues, Vinci-Technologies has
developped a half standard - half customized equipement in order to help to identify an array of feedstock contaminants : SBT for SorBTest unit. It is an equipment designed to test fixed bed of adsorbants either in upflow or downflow mode.
This equipement allows to perform deep investigations regarding adsorbant behaviour and will help to solve adsorbant problems, troubleshooting issues and will give the possibility to answer with appropriate solutions.
The unit is designed to require knowledge of thermodynamic and kinetic properties of adsorbent- adsorbate couples. The adsorbates can be in the liquid or in the gas phases. The determination of breakthrough curve is one of the methods used to determine these properties and therefore the dynamic separation efficiency in actual operating conditions .The Sorbtest unit we propose is a complete laboratory pilot unit, designed to obtain breakthrough curves related to gas/solid adsorption system based on Pressure Swing Adsorption cycles.
It will allow to obtain industrially –relevant data in the following fields:
![*]() Kinetic and thermodynamic studies: relationship between operating conditions (pressure, temperature, flow rates) and performances of adsorbents.
![*]() Comparison of samples of commercial adsorbents as well as lab-made adsorbent samples.
![*]() Others
SBT : Technical description and main features
The equipment is composed of a gas or liquid adsorption system connected to on-line GC analyzer. The gas/liquid sorption system is based on pressure swing adsorption/desorption cycles (PSA) using a fixed bed of adsorbent contained in an adsorption column, also called adsorber.
1. Gas/Liquid adsorption (upflow or downflow)
During adsorption cycle a gaseous or a liquid feed stream passes through the adsorbent bed upflow, or downflow. The gaseous feed stream can be a gas or a mix of gases, or a liquid feed that can be totally vaporized at this temperature up to 250°C. Pressure of adsorption column ranges from 1 to 100 bar, controlled by a back pressure controller. Temperature is typically in the range 50-250°C and is generated by an oven. The purified stream is then connected to the sampling system and GC analyser (not supplied by Vinci-Technologies).
2. Desorption (downflow or upflow)
Breakthrough will occur when the adsorbent bed is saturated with impurities, at this point the feed stream should be switched off. The saturated bed is isolated, possibly depressurized to atmosphere, and goes to desorption cycle - also called regeneration. During desorption cycle an inert gas stream (Nitrogen for instance) or a liquid is allowed to pass through the adsorbent bed, upflow or downflow. Temperature of adsorption column can even be raised up to 300-400°C to increase desorption efficiency. After a given time, desorption is supposed to be over. Temperature of the adsorber can be decreased to adsorption temperature if needed. Adsorption column is pressurized again up to adsorption pressure and is ready for a new adsorption cycle. The adsorption and desorption times, and other operating conditions (temperature, pressure, flow rate…) should be defined by customer by entering the adequate values in the supervision software.
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