Mixed bead layering arrangement for thermal swing adsorption application

A system comprising:

• a feed conduit in fluid flow communication with air, the feed conduit being adapted to supply the air to at least one adsorbent vessel at a feed temperature;
• at least one adsorbent vessel having an inlet, an adsorbent bed, and an outlet, the inlet being in fluid flow communication with the feed conduit, the adsorbent bed comprising a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers comprising a first layer formed from a first adsorbent material that is capable of selectively adsorbing at least one contaminant at a first temperature and selectively desorbing the at least one contaminant at a second temperature, and a second layer formed from a second adsorbent material that is capable of selectively adsorbing the at least one contaminant at the first temperature and selectively desorbing the at least one contaminant at a third temperature;
• a cryogenic distillation subsystem in fluid flow communication with the outlet of the at least one adsorbent vessel;
• a regeneration conduit in fluid flow communication with the outlet of the at least one adsorbent vessel, the regeneration conduit being adapted to supply a regeneration gas at a regeneration temperature, the regeneration temperature being higher than the feed temperature;
• wherein the arrangement of the plurality of layers between the inlet and outlet consists of the first layer and the second layer;
• wherein the second and third temperatures are both higher than the first temperature;
• wherein the arrangement of the plurality of layers from the inlet to the outlet comprises the first layer, then the second layer;
• wherein the first adsorbent material has a greater adsorption capacity for at least one contaminant than the second adsorbent material;
• and
• wherein the adsorbent bed has an equilibrium zone and a mass transfer zone, wherein the first layer is located within the equilibrium zone and the second layer is located within the mass transfer zone.