Review of Polybed pressure swing adsorption for hydrogen purification

Hydrogen (H-2) will play a key role in the future low-carbon energy society. The industrial production of hydrogen involves chemical reactions and purification steps. Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) is a versatile process able to produce ultrapure hydrogen (99.99+%) from various gas mixtures, resulting in the most widespread purification technology worldwide. In particular, the Polybed PSA system, having more than six beds and a complex cycle configuration, has proven to maximize H2 recovery and H-2 throughput, exceeding 90% and 240 MMSCFD (265,000 Nm(3) h(-1)) per single train, respectively. This paper systematically reviews the Polybed H2 PSA process for the first time, highlighting the latest technical advances and discussing its optimal integration in industrial clusters. A bespoke Polybed PSA process designed for simultaneous production of high purity hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) is also reviewed in light of the recent international directives aimed to reduce CO2 emissions and produce blue hydrogen. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Hydrogen plays a crucial role in the future low-carbon energy society, and the Polybed PSA process is the most widely used purification technology worldwide for producing ultrapure hydrogen. This paper provides a systematic review of the Polybed H2 PSA process, presenting the latest technical advances and discussing its optimal integration in industrial clusters. Additionally, it reviews a bespoke Polybed PSA process designed for simultaneous production of high purity hydrogen and carbon dioxide, aligning with international directives to reduce CO2 emissions and produce blue hydrogen.