A pressure swing adsorption system, comprising: a plurality of vessels (42, 44, 46, 48) having one or more layers of adsorbent material therein; a feed gas channel connected to the plurality of vessels; a product recovery channel connected to the plurality of vessels; a purge gas channel connected to the plurality of vessels; a waste gas channel connected to the plurality of vessel; and an equalization channel connected to the plurality of vessels, wherein: the product recovery channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (70, 72) in a parallel flow arrangement; and/or the purge gas channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (66, 68) in a parallel flow arrangement; and/or the waste gas channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (58, 60) in a parallel flow arrangement; and/or the equalization channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (76, 78) in a parallel flow arrangement, and a control system, wherein, when the respective manifolds are present, the control system is configured to: open the at least two valves (70, 72) in the manifold connecting the product recovery channel sequentially; open the at least two valves (66, 68) in the manifold connecting the purge gas channel sequentially; open the at least two valves (58, 60) in the manifold connecting the waste gas channel sequentially; and open the at least two valves (76, 78) in the manifold connecting the equalization channel sequentially. a plurality of vessels (42, 44, 46, 48) having one or more layers of adsorbent material therein; a feed gas channel connected to the plurality of vessels; a product recovery channel connected to the plurality of vessels; a purge gas channel connected to the plurality of vessels; a waste gas channel connected to the plurality of vessel; and an equalization channel connected to the plurality of vessels, wherein: the product recovery channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (70, 72) in a parallel flow arrangement; and/or the purge gas channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (66, 68) in a parallel flow arrangement; and/or the waste gas channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (58, 60) in a parallel flow arrangement; and/or the equalization channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (76, 78) in a parallel flow arrangement, and the product recovery channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (70, 72) in a parallel flow arrangement; and/or the purge gas channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (66, 68) in a parallel flow arrangement; and/or the waste gas channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (58, 60) in a parallel flow arrangement; and/or the equalization channel is connected to each of the plurality of vessels via a manifold comprising at least two valves (76, 78) in a parallel flow arrangement, and a control system, wherein, when the respective manifolds are present, the control system is configured to: open the at least two valves (70, 72) in the manifold connecting the product recovery channel sequentially; open the at least two valves (66, 68) in the manifold connecting the purge gas channel sequentially; open the at least two valves (58, 60) in the manifold connecting the waste gas channel sequentially; and open the at least two valves (76, 78) in the manifold connecting the equalization channel sequentially. open the at least two valves (70, 72) in the manifold connecting the product recovery channel sequentially; open the at least two valves (66, 68) in the manifold connecting the purge gas channel sequentially; open the at least two valves (58, 60) in the manifold connecting the waste gas channel sequentially; and open the at least two valves (76, 78) in the manifold connecting the equalization channel sequentially.