A short review on pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology for nitrogen generation from air

Nitrogen is among the essential industrial gases after oxygen and hydrogen commonly obtained through the air separation process. Air separation is one of the essential gas separation processes in many chemical industries since it accounts for a substantial element of production costs in related sectors. In response to this increasing need, one of the most substantial areas of investigation is the quest for cost-effective and energy-efficient air separation processes. Different technologies for nitrogen generation from the air, such as cryogenic distillation, membrane separation, and pressure swing adsorption (PSA), were discussed. PSA offers various advantages, mainly related to cost, low-energy penalty, environmental impact, and modularity. Since its first invention, the three different configurations of PSA have been distinguished. The dynamic behavior of PSA is well described using the simplified coupled mass, momentum, and energy balances, with some related correlations. Herein, comprehensive correlations were presented for easy reference. As a flexible process and a viable alternative to existing nitrogen generation technologies, we anticipate that the PSA technology will significantly contribute to a wide range of chemical industries in the near future.