Numerical study of n-pentane separation using adsorption column

Abstract

This work simulated numerically the n-pentane separation of a mixture of iso-pentane, n-pentane and nitrogen, using an adsorption column with zeolite 5A. The mathematical model equations of the mass and heat transfer in the adsorption column are presented, as well as the boundary and initials conditions, beyond some hypotheses and considerations. The Volume Finite Method was used in the discretization of the equations to get the system of algebraic equations and posterior development of the computational algorithm. The numerical results using the Differencing Central (CDS) and Upwind (UDS) interpolations were compared with experimental results found in the literature. The influence of the partial pressure in the adsorption column performance was also analyzed.