PSA oxygen generation: Process parameter optimization and improved oxygen production performance in plateau regions

Variations in the operating altitude of PSA oxygen concentrators can significantly affect their performance, limiting their ability to satisfy oxygen demands in regions at different altitudes and restricting local economic development. To address this challenge, an experimental PSA oxygen generation system was designed to investigate the effects of altitude variations on oxygen production performance in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The independent influences of P_H/P_L and P/F on PSA oxygen production performance were examined by adjusting adsorption time, pressure equalization time, purge time, and purge flow rate. An optimized adjustment strategy for process parameters was developed based on altitude changes. As the altitude increased, P_H/P_L was improved by increased adsorption time and pressure equalization time during the adsorption stage, mitigating the adverse effects of reduced gas source capacity, improving adsorbent utilization, and maintaining O₂ purity and productivity. During the desorption stage, P/F was reduced by reducing purge time and purge flow rate, conserving oxygen-enriched product gas, improving O₂ recovery and reducing energy consumption. Optimization was particularly necessary when the system was coupled with an air compressor exhibiting low exhaust performance. The optimized strategy for process parameters substantially improved oxygen production performance as the altitude increased from 2810 m to 4540 m, compared with experiments without parameter adjustments. O₂ purity and productivity increased by 4.08 % to 23.80 %, while O₂ recovery improved by 5.84 % to 32.19 %. Energy consumption and annual operating electricity costs were reduced by 0.55 % to 2.96 %. The PSA oxygen generation process parameter optimization and adjustment strategy developed in this study has been successfully applied to oxygen supply projects for hospitals and tunnels in plateau regions.