FREMGANGSMAATE FOR DRIFT AV ET SYKLISK ARBEIDENDE TRYKKVEKSLINGS-ADSORBSJONSANLEGG

1. A method of operating a cyclically-operating pressure-swing adsorption system for cleaning and separating gases, comprising a plurality of adsorbers each of which, within a cycle, passes through a predetermined number of adsorption, expansion or pressure compensation, flushing and repressurisation phases, wherein for the adsorbers, the pipelines and/or the valves of the pressure-swing adsorption system, measurable physical quantities are selected and continuously measured, and wherein the occurrence of differences between measured values and theoretical values of these quantities are evaluated as an indication of a defect in the adsorption system, and after the blocking-off of the apparatus components which have been established as being defective, the adsorption system is further operated with a reduced number of adsorbers, characterised in that, on the occurrence of a difference between the theoretical and measured values of one of these quantities, the occurrence of a difference between the theoretical and measured values of at least one other quantity assigned to the same part of the system is awaited, and that only then are the apparatus components which have been established as being defective blocked-off and the adsorption system further operated with a reduced number of adsorbers.