Isopropyl Alcohol Dehydration By Hot Gas Pressure Swing Adsorption: Experiments, Simulations, And Implementation

A full-scale hot gas pressure swing adsorption (HGPSA) process was designed by mathematical modeling for isopropyl alcohol dehydration. The mathematical model was validated against laboratory experiments. The experimental data were also used to obtain the transport properties used in the model by fitting the simulation results. After the designed full-scale hot gas pressure swing adsorption plant was manufactured and constructed, an Aspen Adsorption model was used to assist in the identification and troubleshooting of problems that arose during start-up. The Aspen package was also used to refine control strategies of the HGPSA unit. The use of the combined experimental and modeling tool approach enabled the successful start-up of the HGPSA plant. Sustainable operation was demonstrated to meet the isopropyl alcohol product specification and was able to be predicted by the Aspen Adsorption model.