The invention relates to a method for regulating a unit for separating a gas stream, having P adsorbers, where P≥2, each following a PSA-type adsorption cycle with a phase time shift, the method involving the steps of operating the unit according to the nominal cycle when the required flow rate is equal to a nominal flow rate or optionally when the required flow rate is higher than the nominal flow rate, and operating the unit according to the reduced cycle when the required flow rate is lower than or equal to a predetermined flow rate, the predetermined flow rate being lower than the nominal flow rate.

The invention relates to a process for the regeneration of an adsorber. For the regeneration a liquid stream (S2) comprising at least one alkane is converted from liquid phase into gaseous phase. Then the adsorber is regenerated and heated by contact with gaseous stream (S2) up to 230 to 270° C. Subsequently, the adsorber is cooled first by contact with gaseous stream (S2) to a temperature of 90 to 150° C. followed by cooling with liquid stream (S2) to a temperature below 80° C. The outflow of the adsorber (S2*) during the cooling with gaseous stream (S2) and optionally the outflow of the adsorber (S2*) during cooling with liquid stream (S2) is recycled in at least one of these steps.

The current disclosure provides systems and methods for multiple beds undergoing a feed step at the same time with the same feed flow rate and multiple beds undergoing a light reflux step at the same time with the same light reflux flow rate to process a gas stream in a multi-bed, multi-unit vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process using reasonably sized beds.

A system for generating hydrogen includes an ammonia decomposition bed configured to introduce an ammonia gas, decompose the ammonia gas into a high-pressure first mixed gas including nitrogen and hydrogen, and discharge the high-pressure first mixed gas; an ammonia adsorption bed supplied with the high-pressure first mixed gas from the ammonia decomposition bed, and configured to adsorb ammonia of the first mixed gas, and discharge a high-pressure second mixed gas including nitrogen and hydrogen; and a nitrogen adsorption bed directly supplied with the high-pressure second mixed gas from the ammonia adsorption bed, and configured to adsorb the nitrogen, and discharge the hydrogen.

The current disclosure provides systems and methods for multiple beds undergoing a feed step at the same time with the same feed flow rate and multiple beds undergoing a light reflux step at the same time with the same light reflux flow rate to process a gas stream in a multi-bed, multi-unit vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process using reasonably sized beds.

A system for generating hydrogen includes an ammonia decomposition bed configured to introduce an ammonia gas, decompose the ammonia gas into a high-pressure first mixed gas including nitrogen and hydrogen, and discharge the high-pressure first mixed gas; an ammonia adsorption bed supplied with the high-pressure first mixed gas from the ammonia decomposition bed, and configured to adsorb ammonia of the first mixed gas, and discharge a high-pressure second mixed gas including nitrogen and hydrogen; and a nitrogen adsorption bed directly supplied with the high-pressure second mixed gas from the ammonia adsorption bed, and configured to adsorb the nitrogen, and discharge the hydrogen.

A process of treating a natural gas stream is provided comprising sending natural gas stream through a first adsorbent bed to remove water and heavy hydrocarbons (C8+) to produce a partially treated gas stream in which the first adsorbent bed is regenerated by a temperature swing adsorption process and then sending the partially treated gas stream through a second adsorption bed to remove carbon dioxide and lighter hydrocarbons (C7−) to produce a purified natural gas stream wherein said second adsorption bed is regenerated by a temperature pressure swing adsorption process.

Methods and systems for removing water vapor from a feed gas prior to further processing the feed gas according to a downstream PSA process are described. The feed gas can include CO.sub.2 and/or CO and/or H.sub.2 and the PSA process can be used to separate components of the feed gas from one another, for instance, for CO.sub.2 capture. Light product off of the PSA process is utilized to regenerate desiccant of a dryer used in the water vapor removal process that is carried out prior to the feed gas entering the PSA process. The water vapor removal process can be heated by providing thermal energy directly to the dryer and/or to a regenerating stream that regenerates the desiccant of the dryer. The thermal energy can be low cost energy—for instance, waste heat off of a system that provides the feed gas.

Disclosed herein are multi-bed rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (RCPSA) processes for separating O.sub.2 from N.sub.2 and/or Ar, wherein the process utilizes at least five adsorption beds each comprising a kinetically selective adsorbent for O.sub.2 having an O.sub.2 adsorption rate (1/s) of at least 0.20 as determined by linear driving force model at 1 atma and 86 F.

Disclosed herein are multi-bed rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (RCPSA) processes for separating O.sub.2 from N.sub.2 and/or Ar, wherein the process utilizes at least five adsorption beds each comprising a kinetically selective adsorbent for O.sub.2 having an O.sub.2 adsorption rate (1/s) of at least 0.20 as determined by linear driving force model at 1 atma and 86 F.