PSA in Automobile Industry

With the rapid advancement in technology, Pressure swing Adsorption technology operated dryers are increasingly used on heavy commercial vehicles like trucks and buses for drying the compressed air that operates and controls the brakes and pneumatic accessories. In this process, typically a molecular sieve filled single packed bed is used for drying. These dryers efficiently use the property of molecular sieve to remove water from ambient air that has been ideally compressed to about 130 psig. These days trucks are even adopting systems with 176 psig of air pressure. The dryers operate on a pressure swing adsorption cycle.

As compressed ambient air enters into air brake dryer unit, wherein liquid water gets separated and consequently water vapor gets adsorbed. In the molecular bed. Compressed dry air is then removed from the air brake dryer unit. It is then passed to the brake system. As part of the cyclic process, water also gets desorbed when desorption or depressurization steps are performed. This process occurs at atmospheric pressure, and can also include the purge step.

The future lies here: Growing concern over the depleting fossil fuels and green house gas emissions have made us to think of alternative fuels that are renewable and doesn't emit harmful gases. Constant research led to the development of hydrogen supplied equipment that are applied in fuel cells. This fuel cell would power automobiles. Installation of Hydrogen stations would ensure continuous on-site hydrogen production. This would be based on the reforming technology of liquid natural gas. A typical Hydrogen purification equipment can come with a a compact Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) system utilizing six adsorption columns.

Inside View of Hydrogen Powered Fuel Cell Car: