Patent ID: 7892323

Claim:
A process for increasing the hydrogen purity in a hydrogen-containing input stream associated with a petrochemical process, which process comprises subjecting the hydrogen-containing input stream to a rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption unit containing a plurality of beds and having a total cycle time of less than about 30 seconds, said total cycle time, t TOT , being defined by the equation t TOT =t F +t CO +t CN +t P +t RP , wherein t F represents a time for product adsorption, t CO represents a time for co-current depressurization, t CN represents a time for counter-current depressurization, t P represents a time for bed purging, and t RP represents a time for bed repressurization, and said rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption unit having a pressure drop within each adsorbent bed of greater than about 5 inches of water per foot of bed length, thus forming a purified hydrogen-containing gas product, wherein the purified hydrogen-containing gas product is recovered from the rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption unit, relative to the hydrogen-containing input stream, and wherein one or more of t F , t CO , t CN , t P , and t RP are controlled so as to exhibit (i) a rate of recovery (R %) greater than 80% for a hydrogen purity to feed ratio (P %/F %) greater than 1.1, (ii) a rate of recovery (R %) greater than 90% for a hydrogen purity to feed ratio (P %/F %) less than 1.1 but greater than 1, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).