The Dynamic Response and Characteristics of an Oxygen Vacuum Swing Adsorption Process to Step Perturbations. Part 2. Sensitivity Analysis and Controller Pairings

Abstract

The application of vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) as a method for the production of low-purity oxygen is now a mature and widely used technology. However, unlike other unit operations, VSA processes remain difficult to understand and, coupled by the lack of theoretical developments in batch process control, make them difficult to control. The objective of the second part of this study was to characterise the step response data gained from Part 1 using empirical modelling techniques. This information was then used to analyse the sensitivity of the input variables and hence permit determination of the extent of closed-loop interaction and identification of suitable controller parings.