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Oxygen Generation (PSA / VSA)
Gas Treatment & Drying

Oxygen Generation (PSA / VSA)

On site oxygen generation by pressure swing or vacuum pressure swing adsorption using lithium exchanged X zeolite for medical, aquaculture, ozone, and metals applications.

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The Challenge
Delivered liquid oxygen and cylinder gas carry high cost per cubic metre, road transport logistics, and supply chain risk. Sites with continuous oxygen demand face significant lifetime savings from on site generation.
Quick Answer

On site oxygen generation by PSA or VPSA delivers oxygen at 90 to 95 percent purity from compressed air using lithium exchanged X type zeolite. VPSA (vacuum cycle) gives higher recovery at flows above 100 Nm³/h; PSA (pressure cycle) is simpler at smaller scale. Standard markets are medical centres, aquaculture, ozone generation, and metals processing.

Oxygen Generation (PSA / VSA)

On Site Oxygen Replaces Delivered Liquid

Hospitals, aquaculture facilities, ozone water treatment plants, and metals processors run continuous oxygen demand at 50 to 2,500 Nm³/h. Delivered liquid oxygen and cylinder gas combine high cost per cubic metre with road transport logistics and supply chain risk; the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the latter at hospitals worldwide. On site generation by pressure swing adsorption converts the variable opex into a predictable capital plus electricity cost.

Lithium X Type Zeolite Drives Oxygen Recovery

The deciding adsorbent is lithium exchanged X type zeolite manufactured to ISO 9001:2015. The lithium cation creates the strongest equilibrium loading for nitrogen of any commercial zeolite; oxygen and argon are the unadsorbed product. The bed is regenerated by pressure swing (PSA) or vacuum (VPSA). VPSA gives higher oxygen recovery (50 to 60 percent of the contained oxygen) at lower specific energy and is preferred above 100 Nm³/h.

Oxygen Generation (PSA / VSA) process equipment

VPSA vs PSA Selection

VPSA uses a mild pressure on adsorption (1.2 to 1.5 barg) and a vacuum on regeneration (down to 100 mbar). The wider pressure ratio gives higher recovery at lower specific energy. PSA uses a higher adsorption pressure (4 to 6 barg) with regeneration to atmospheric; the cycle is simpler and the package smaller at sub 100 Nm³/h flows. The SorbiTech sizing study returns the right technology for the contracted flow.

Delivery and Markets

Delivered as an oxygen VPSA package by SorbiTech (turnkey) or SorbiTech (fabrication scope). Markets include medical centre oxygen supply (largest by site count), aquaculture (largest by volume), ozone water treatment (smaller but high reliability), and metals processing (oxygen enrichment for combustion efficiency). Sector coverage is industrial gas and mining and metallurgy.

Selection Guidance

Below 100 Nm³/h: PSA. Above 100 Nm³/h: VPSA for higher recovery and lower energy. Lithium exchanged X type zeolite is the reference adsorbent, SorbiTech supplies the grade. For oxygen above 95 percent, add downstream cryogenic deargon stage.

How SorbiTech Solves It

A Specified, Verified Solution

Define the duty

We capture your process conditions: flow, composition, pressure, temperature, and the target outlet specification.

Select media & configuration

Our engineers recommend the adsorbent grade and system type that meet the duty with margin.

Size & engineer

Bed sizing, vessel design, and cycle parameters are engineered to your case and documented for approval.

Commission & verify

We support loading, start up, and performance verification against the guarantee.

Recommended Products & Systems

Media

Adsorbents & Media

  1. 01 CMS 450hp Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 450HP Ultra high purity carbon molecular sieve. 99.99999 percent (7N) N2, selective O2 and CO2 capture, 1.0 to 1.6 mm pellets, minimal fines, deoxo polishing… Water Cap. Feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1, deoxo polishing recommended for 7N %
  2. 02 CMS 420kt Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 420KT High efficiency carbon molecular sieve. Higher oxygen affinity under 7 to 12 barg, 1.2 to 1.8 mm pellets, Snowstorm Filling compatible, ASTM D4058 attrition… Water Cap. Feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1 %
  3. 03 CMS 350kt Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 350KT Rapid adsorption carbon molecular sieve. 40 to 90 second cycle at 7 to 10 barg, up to 99.99 percent N2, 1.0 to 2.2 mm… Water Cap. Moisture at supply below 1.0 percent, feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1 %
  4. 04 Activated Alumina Aa 201 Adsorbent Activated Alumina Impregnated Promoter loaded activated alumina for hydrogen sulphide, chloride, and Claus tail gas guard duty. Form 3–5 mm spheres · 1.6–3.2 mm spheres
  5. 05 CMS 260l Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 260L Affordable carbon molecular sieve. 1.2 to 1.8 mm pellets, sub 10 Angstrom pore, 95 to 99.9 percent N2 from compressed air at 7 to… Water Cap. Intolerant of liquid water, feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1 %
  6. 06 SorbiTech Activated Alumina Drying Grade Compressed Air Desiccant ISO 8573 Adsorbent Activated Alumina Drying Grade High capacity activated alumina for compressed air dryers, gas dehydration, and heatless desiccant systems. Water Cap. ≥ 20 %
Equipment

Engineered Systems

  1. 01 SorbiTech Oxygen Vpsa Package Industrial Oxygen Vpsa Steel Mill Blast Furnace Equipment Oxygen VPSA Package On site vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) oxygen generation package delivering 90 to 95 percent oxygen for medical, aquaculture, ozone generation, and metals applications. Capacity 50–2,500 Nm³/h O₂ (90–95 % purity)
  2. 02 SorbiTech Hydrogen PSA Purification Package Refinery H2 Recovery Multi Bed PSA Equipment Hydrogen PSA Purification Package On site hydrogen PSA package using a layered adsorbent bed for high purity hydrogen recovery from steam methane reformer off gas or electrolyser product. Capacity 50–50,000 Nm³/h H₂
  3. 03 SorbiTech PSA Nitrogen Generation Package on Site Nitrogen CMS Pressure Swing Equipment PSA Nitrogen Generation Package On site pressure swing adsorption nitrogen generator using carbon molecular sieve. It delivers nitrogen at 95 to 99.999 percent purity for blanketing, purging, and… Capacity 5–5,000 Nm³/h N₂
  4. 04 SorbiTech Transformer Breather Cartridge System Silica Gel Grid Utility Breather Equipment Transformer Breather Cartridge System Pre packaged stainless steel transformer breather cartridge with indicating silica gel for grid transformer moisture protection across the high voltage transmission and distribution network. Capacity 0.5–25 kVA transformer to 800 kV substation
  5. 05 SorbiTech Cryogenic ASU Pre Purification Package ASU Front End 13x Alumina TSA Towers Equipment Cryogenic ASU Pre Purification Package Front end TSA pre purification package for cryogenic air separation units removing water, carbon dioxide, and trace hydrocarbons before the cold box. Capacity 5,000–500,000 Nm³/h air
  6. 06 SorbiTech Biogas Upgrading Unit Biomethane PSA Carbon Molecular Sieve Equipment Biogas Upgrading Unit PSA biogas upgrading unit using carbon molecular sieve to separate carbon dioxide from methane and deliver grid quality bio methane from anaerobic digester biogas… Capacity 50–2,000 Nm³/h raw biogas
Industries

Industries Using This Application

  1. 01 SorbiTech Mining Metallurgy Copper Concentrator SAG Mill Flotation Sector Mining & Metallurgy Carbon in pulp (CIP) and carbon in leach (CIL) gold recovery, process water polishing, and acid mine drainage treatment for the mining and metallurgical…
  2. 02 SorbiTech Industrial Gas Air Separation ASU Cryogenic Distillation Cold Box Sector Industrial Gas & Air Separation Molecular sieves and carbon molecular sieve plus PSA/TSA systems for nitrogen and oxygen generation and cryogenic air separation pre purification.

Specify a Solution for This Application

Provide your process conditions and our team will recommend the grade, configuration, and sizing.

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