Periodic separating reactors: Experiments and theory

The novel combination of a pressure swing adsorber (PSA) with a periodic flow‐forced packed‐bed reactor is explored. The device provides integral component separation and reaction. Feed sequences studied for the periodic separating reactor (PSR) were those of rapid, single‐bed pressure swing adsorption (RPSA). The experimental investigation employed CO oxidation over a packed bed of supported platinum catalyst and molecular sieve adsorbent. A reaction rate limited model is formulated and solved for a variety of irreversible and reversible reactions. The presence of irreversible chemical reaction is shown to greatly enhance the separation achievable by RPSA alone. For a wide range of inlet CO/O2 ratios, CO2 production could be increased up to two times over steady‐state plug‐flow reactor operation, while providing a recycle stream without phase change or extractive procedures. Selectivity and conversion improvements were predicted for multiple reaction systems. Other unusual features of operation, such as separation reversals, were also predicted and observed.