SOLID RECYCLE

SECTION 1 SECTION 2 SECTION 3 SECTION 4

DESORBENT

EXTRACT FEED RAFFINATE

A A+B B

LIQUID RECYCLE

Figure: True Moving Bed (TMB)

 EXTRACT FEED
SECTION 2
(A+S) (A+B)

Direction of fluid flow

SECTION 1 & SECTION 3
port switching

SOLVENT RAFFINATE
(S) SECTION 4 (B+S)
Extract A Feed A+B Extract A

Section 2

Feed A+B
Solvent S
Section 1

Section 3
Direction of fluid flow Direction of fluid flow
& &
port switching port switching

Section 4

Solvent S Raffinate B Raffinate B

Figure: Simulated Moving Bed (SMB)

 Solvent
Extract

1 2
Solvent Recycle

SECTION 1: switch time > extract retention time

=> Solid regeneration
8 3
SECTION 2: switch time > raffinate retention time
=> Desorption of raffinate to avoid extract
contamination

SECTION 3: switch time > raffinate retention time

< extract retention time
=> Desorption of extract to avoid raffinate
7 4
contamination

SECTION 4: switch time < raffinate retention time

=> Solvent regeneration

6 5

Raffinate Feed
Figure: Open Loop SMB
Ring I

Zone I Zone II Zone III Zone IV

Desorbent Extract Feed (A, B, C) Raffinate (A)

Desorbent Extract (C) Feed Raffinate (B)

Zone I Zone II Zone III Zone IV

Ring II

Figure: Tandem SMB where Ring I key product is the lowest-affinity component
Ring I

Zone I Zone II Zone III Zone IV

Desorbent Extract (C) Feed (A, B, C) Raffinate

Desorbent Extract (B) Feed Raffinate (A)

Zone I Zone II Zone III Zone IV

Ring II

Figure: Tandem SMB where Ring I key product is the highest-affinity component
 ROTARY VALVE:
Switches periodically inlet & outlet ports in the direction of
fluid flow. Distribute 7 streams entering & leaving the
adsorbent chambers.

PUMPAROUND CONTROLLER:
Keeps each zone flowrate constant as it moves around
the adsorption circuit.

LINE FLUSHING:
Flushing out & flushing in steam which form recirculation
loop to push trapped feed into bed.

SECONDARY FLUSH/RECYCLE (X):

Push all feed or extract into adsorbent chamber.

PRIMARY FLUSH OUT LINE (Ho):

Remove liquid with the composition of extract that was
held back in the line previously used to withdraw extract.

PRIMARY FLUSH IN LINE (Hi):

Inject volume removed through flush out line to avoid a
loss of feed.

Figure: Seven zone industrial scale p-xylene SMB unit