Multi-objective optimization of breakthrough times for hydrogen purification through layered bed pressure swing adsorption based on genetic algorithm and artificial neural network model

Hydrogen purification from steam methane reforming (SMR) by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology is a common method to obtain high-purity hydrogen. The breakthrough time can well reflect the adsorption dynamics and help PSA cycle design. In order to avoid time-consuming and labor-intensive breakthrough curve experiments, it is very necessary to develop a fast and accurate surrogate model. In this study, a genetic algorithm (GA) and artificial neural network (ANN) are combined to predict and optimize breakthrough times of adsorbates in activated carbon/zeolite layered beds. Using the Latin hypercube sampling strategy, training data sets of GA-optimized ANN (GA-ANN) obtains from the physical model of adsorption, heat and mass transfer model. The genetic algorithm (GA) optimizes the weights and biases of ANN for better performance. The ANN topology has 4 input variables (superficial velocity, activated carbon height, adsorption pressure and feed temperature) and 3 output variables (breakthrough times of CH4, CO and CO2). The number of neurons in the hidden layer for the GA-ANN model was optimized as 7 to predict and optimize the maximum breakthrough time of SMR with a four-component (H2/CH4/CO/CO2) system. The sensitivity analysis displays that relative importance to the breakthrough time is in the order of superficial velocity (40.88%) > adsorption pressure (24.55%) > activated carbon height (21.04%) > feed temperature (13.53%). To obtain high-purity hydrogen, the GA-ANN model combined with multi-objective GA optimization is used to maximize the breakthrough times of CH4 and CO. The GA-ANN surrogate model proposed in this paper can not only accurately and quickly achieve the purpose of predicting the system breakthrough time with a high correlation coefficient (R = 0.9937) but also obtains the optimal operating conditions of PSA hydrogen purification.