Numerical simulation of a PSA system. Part I: Isothermal trace component system with linear equilibrium and finite mass transfer resistance

A numerical simulation of a pressure swing adsorption process is presented for a system in which a small concentration of an adsorbable component is separated from an inert carrier. Linear equilibrium and a linear rate expression are assumed. The model equations were solved by orthogonal collocation and by finite difference methods with consistent results. The theory is shown to provide a good representation of the experimental data of Mitchell and Shendalman (1973) for the system CO2‐He‐silica gel.