Comparison of Four Types of Vertical Radial‐Flow Adsorbers Based on Binary Adsorption of CO2 and H2O

A mathematical model was established to investigate the binary adsorption process of CO2 and H2O in vertical radial‐flow adsorbers. The results showed that the variation law of the adsorption performance of the four types of adsorbers is similar to that of the flow uniformity. The flow uniformity can be used to indirectly reflect the adsorbent utilization and the adsorption performance of the adsorbers. The breakthrough regions and main adsorption regions of the different flow forms of the adsorbers are different. The centrifugal π‐type adsorber has the best performance among the four types of adsorber. Compared with the centripetal Z‐type adsorber, the pressure drop of the centrifugal π‐type adsorber is reduced by 12.0 %, and the adsorption time of the centrifugal π‐type adsorber is increased by 134 %. Vertical radial‐flow adsorbers are widely used to decrease levels of CO2 and H2O impurities in large‐scale air separation systems. A mathematical model was established to elucidate the competitive adsorption of CO2 and H2O in four types of vertical radial‐flow adsorbers, to compare their adsorption performance, and to analyze the relationship between flow uniformity and adsorption performance.