Avaliação de eficiência do processo de geração de nitrogênio através do ar comprimido

Abstract

In Manaus, there is a great demand for air conditioning equipment due to high temperatures. The production processes of these equipments are highly dependent on gaseous nitrogen suppliers, as it is used as a test gas for these equipments. To avoid this, nitrogen generation processes are developed through compressed air, such as PSA- Pressure Swing Adsorption- nitrogen generation plants. In this context, the objective of the present work is to evaluate the efficiency of the adsorption and desorption columns involved in the nitrogen generation process through the compressed air PSA adsorption mechanism. This analysis will be done by obtaining the experimental rupture and desorption curves. The equipment used was the PSA JPN-150 plant acquired by an industry in the Zona Franca de Manaus. In the evaluation carried out, constant feed flows of 200, 300, 365, 400 and 500 m³/h were used. The parameters were set according to the data established by the manufacturer: adsorbent mass 2500g, bed temperature 65ºC. For each flow, the total bed capacity (𝑡𝑡), usable bed capacity (𝑡𝑢), bed adsorption efficiency (𝑛) and bed desorption efficiency (𝐸) were calculated. The results showed that the flow of 365 m³ /h was the one with the highest efficiency of adsorption (approximately 98%) and desorption (100%). It was possible to infer that the equipment operates in an optimal state at the same flow rate established by the manufacturer. Therefore, the results obtained allow us to conclude that in the study of the nitrogen generation process through the adsorption of compressed air using the PSA technology, using the PSA JPN-150 equipment, it was possible to obtain nitrogen at excellent rates of purity and operation with high percentages of adsorption and desorption.