Method for operation of an air prepurifier which takes into account inlet air conditions

A method for control of cycle time of a pressure swing adsorber (PSA) air prepurifier which includes a least a first adsorber and a second adsorber and controlled means for controlling air feed to said first adsorber and said second adsorber, said method comprising the steps of

• a) measuring flow during a determined time period to one said adsorber that is coupled to an air inlet;
• b) accumulating an actual totalized flow to said one said adsorber, based upon measured flow values obtained in step a);
• c) monitoring air feed conditions;
• d) based at least in part on said totalized flow, decoupling said one said adsorber from said air inlet and coupling a second said adsorber to said air inlet:
• and
• e) based upon a condition of said one said adsorber, adjusting purge gas flow to said one said adsorber to reduce the time needed to ready said one said adsorber for a next cycle.

A system for control of cycle time of a pressure swing adsorber (PSA) air prepurifier that receives air from an air inlet, comprising:

• a first adsorber and a second adsorber;
• means for measuring flow during a determined time period to one said adsorber that is coupled to said air inlet;
• means for monitoring air feed conditions to said first adsorber and said second adsorber;
• controller means for controlling air feed to said first adsorber and said second adsorber, said controller means
• (i) accumulating an actual totalized flow to said one said adsorber, based upon measured flow values determined by inputs from said means for measuring;
• (ii) periodically calculating a maximum totalized flow to said one said adsorber, said maximum totalized flow determined, at least in part, based upon said air feed conditions;
• and
• (iii) periodically comparing an actual totalized flow value and upon a predetermine relationship being reached therebetween generating a signal to cause a decoupling of said one said adsorber from said air inlet and coupling of a second said adsorber to said air inlet.