VPSA-O2 Plant
VPSA-O2 Plant is an industrial VPSA oxygen generation system engineered for stable, energy-efficient oxygen supply at large scale. Designed and manufactured by Beijing Peking University Pioneer Technology Corporation Ltd., the system applies vacuum pressure swing adsorption to separate oxygen from ambient air and continuously deliver oxygen product for demanding industrial processes where reliability, operating flexibility, and cost control matter.
Advanced VPSA Oxygen Plant Solutions
Engineered and tested across thousands of industrial operating hours and built on decades of manufacturing expertise in gas separation, VPSA-O2 Plant combines proprietary lithium-based adsorbent performance with proven airflow distribution and process design. The result is a robust oxygen plant architecture that supports continuous production through PLC-controlled cyclic switching, while maintaining high availability and practical operating economics for oxygen-enriched and oxy-fuel applications.
Based on extensive engineering experience and large-scale project delivery capabilities in industrial gas systems, PKU Pioneer provides complete equipment design, manufacture, and engineering construction capabilities for VPSA and PSA gas separation solutions, with a strong track record across a broad set of heavy industry and process manufacturing sectors.
Key Features & Specifications
Technical Advantages
Based on the high-efficient lithium-based VPSA-O2 adsorbent PU-8
Unique airflow distribution technology
Advanced process design
Reliable supplementary devices
Engineered to ensure energy-efficient and large-scale VPSA-O2 plants that provide oxygen product at a lower cost
Optimized floor plan to save space
Shorter construction timeline, with only 4–6 months from design to production
Wide turndown range to match variable process demand.
VPSA-O2 System Parameters
VPSA-O2 System Parameters with Oxygen Purity of 90 percent are listed below.
| Model | Oxygen yield | Load adjustment range | Water Consumption | Power Consumption | Plot area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nm3/h | % | t/h | KWh/m3 | m2 | |
| ZO-1000 | 1000 Nm3/h ～34 TPD | 50%~100% | 30 | Chat with us for details | 468 |
| ZO-3000 | 3000 Nm3/h ～103 TPD | 50%~100% | 70 | Chat with us for details | 572 |
| ZO-5000 | 5000 Nm3/h ～171 TPD | 50%~100% | 121 | Chat with us for details | 648 |
| ZO-8000 | 8000 Nm3/h ～274 TPD | 25%~100% | 205 | Chat with us for details | 1350 |
| ZO-10000 | 10000 Nm3/h ～342 TPD | 25%~100% | 242 | Chat with us for details | 1350 |
| ZO-12000 | 12000 Nm3/h ～412 TPD | 25%~100% | 258 | Chat with us for details | 1508 |
| ZO-15000 | 15000 Nm3/h ～514 TPD | 17%~100% | 363 | Chat with us for details | 1890 |
| ZO-18000 | 18000 Nm3/h ～617 TPD | 17%~100% | 387 | Chat with us for details | 2088 |
| ZO-20000 | 20000 Nm3/h ～686 TPD | 13%~100% | 482 | Chat with us for details | 2800 |
Working Principle and System Description
The VPSA-O2 after desorption is blown by a blower and enters the adsorption vessel of the VPSA-O2 system after being filtered and removed mechanical impurities. The adsorber is a double-vessel system, and its product is oxygen. Nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor in the air are adsorbed, and a vacuum pump will be applied after saturated adsorption to ensure the adsorbents in the adsorption vessel are completely desorbed for regeneration.
The double-vessel VPSA-O2 system ensures continuous oxygen generation through cyclic switch of the program control valve under the control of PLC data control system.
Process Steps for VPSA Oxygen Production
Vacuum pressure swing adsorption oxygen plants generally utilize the operating steps shown below to separate and enrich oxygen. In one cycle, each adsorption vessel needs to undergo five steps: adsorption, pressure reduction, vacuum desorption, purging, and pressure increasing.
Adsorption
After mechanical impurities in the air is removed by the filter, it enters the adsorption tower through the Roots blower. The H2O, CO2, and N2 in the air stay in the adsorbent bed. Since O2 is absorbed little in the adsorbent, the O2 exiting in the vessel will be richer than other entering mixture, and it is discharged from the outlet of the tower. A portion of the oxygen produced by this step is sent to the buffer tank, and the remaining portion is reserved for the next step to regenerate and boost the pressure in the adsorption tower.
Pressure Reduction
In the pressure reduction step, oxygen-rich gas passes along the vessel outlet into another one in the pressure increasing step, and the pressure goes up.
Vacuum Desorption
The vacuum pump is applied after saturated adsorption to ensure the adsorbents are completely desorbed for regeneration.
Purging
Oxygen is used to purge the bed as part of the regeneration sequence.
Pressure Increasing
The vessel pressure is raised as part of the cyclic switching program to prepare for the next adsorption step.
Typical Cases
12,500 Nm³/h VPSA Oxygen Plant for Changjiang Steel
PKU Pioneer successfully commissioned a 12,500 Nm³/h VPSA oxygen plant for Changjiang Steel, helping reduce liquid oxygen dependence and significantly lower blast furnace oxygen enrichment costs. The project was completed in just 73 days and delivers daily savings exceeding $14,285, further strengthening energy efficiency and cost competitiveness for large-scale steel production.
12,500 Nm³/h VPSA Oxygen Plant for Copper Smelting
PKU Pioneer successfully commissioned a 12,500 Nm³/h VPSA oxygen plant for Wuxin Copper, helping eliminate oxygen supply bottlenecks and improve oxygen-enriched smelting efficiency. The project significantly reduced oxygen production costs, enhanced automation capabilities, and supported the customer’s capacity expansion and green metallurgy upgrade.
Blast Furnace Oxygen Enrichment PSA Project
PKU Pioneer successfully commissioned a second-phase 14,000 Nm³/h PSA oxygen plant for Chifeng Yuanlian Iron & Steel, expanding total oxygen generation capacity to 28,000 Nm³/h. The project significantly reduced oxygen production costs, improved operational flexibility, and supported the steel mill’s energy-saving and low-carbon transformation goals.
Characteristics of Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption Oxygen Production Technology
Industrial oxygen production methods mainly include cryogenic air separation oxygen generation, vacuum pressure swing adsorption oxygen production and membrane separation oxygen production. vacuum pressure swing adsorption is an advanced gas separation technology standing at an irreplaceable position in the field of gas supply. Main features of vacuum pressure swing adsorption oxygen plant are as follows:
Based on these characteristics, cryogenic oxygen production technology has certain advantages in large-scale and high-purity(＞95%) oxygen conditions. Vacuum pressure swing adsorption oxygen generation technology is more advantageous in variable and low-purity(80~94%) oxygen use due to low cost, easy operation, and flexible load adjustment.
Start Your System Design
Reduce dependency on external supply and stabilize your production with VPSA oxygen generation.
Solutions for All Your Oxygen Usage Scenarios
Every sector has unique gas needs. We engineer solutions that fit.
Key Benefits & Competitive Advantages
VPSA oxygen supply reduces dependence on delivered liquid oxygen logistics and stabilizes production planning for continuous operations.
High automation supports 24-hour full-automatic operation and enables remote monitoring through a communication interface.
Fast time to qualified oxygen supports operational agility. The process can usually produce qualified oxygen within 0.5 hours.
Flexible turndown supports process variability. Depending on model, the system supports load adjustment ranges from 13%~100% up to 50%~100%.
Energy-efficient oxygen production is enabled by proprietary high-efficient lithium-based adsorbent PU-8 and engineered airflow distribution and process design.
Designed for industrial practicality with operation at normal temperature and low pressure to support safety-focused oxygen generation environments.
Lower investment profile than large cryogenic oxygen production in many variable-demand and lower-purity industrial oxygen scenarios.
Proven suitability across heavy industry based on typical deployments in blast furnace oxygen enrichment and non-ferrous oxygen-enriched smelting, including high-altitude installations.
Application Scenarios & Use Cases
| Scenario | Industry | Key Benefit | Why This Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blast furnace oxygen enrichment | Iron and steel | Improves enrichment stability and supports continuous operation | Large-scale VPSA-O2 parameters and typical case experience in blast furnace enrichment |
| Oxygen-enriched recycled copper smelting | Non-ferrous metallurgy | Reduces oxygen supply constraints and improves process control | Proven oxygen unit application in recycled copper oxygen-enriched smelting |
| Copper, lead, and zinc smelting at high altitude | Non-ferrous metallurgy | Reliable oxygen supply under challenging site conditions | Typical high-altitude oxygen system case and engineered cyclic control for continuous oxygen generation |
| Oxy-fuel and oxygen-enriched combustion | Glass and fiberglass | Supports combustion optimization and stable oxygen delivery | VPSA technology delivers oxygen product while adsorbing nitrogen, CO2, and water vapor from air |
| Chemical oxidation processes requiring stable oxygen | Chemical industry | VPSA oxygen availability improves uptime and supply stability | PLC-controlled cyclic switching and continuous generation architecture |
| Environmental and energy-saving retrofits using oxygen enrichment | Energy and environmental projects | Enables process efficiency improvements | Compact process concept and flexible load adjustment match variable operating requirements |
| Distributed oxygen supply for multi-line manufacturing sites | Process manufacturing | Supports right-sized capacity selection and controllable operation | Standard model range from 1000 to 20000 Nm3/h with defined plot area and water consumption data |
| Projects requiring remote operation and reduced staffing | Industrial utilities | Simplifies operations and reduces manual intervention | Full-automatic 24-hour operation and remote monitoring through communication interface |
Competitive Comparison
| Feature/Aspect | This Product | Typical Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| VPSA oxygen production | ✓ | ✓ or ✗ |
| Suitable oxygen purity for oxygen-enriched use | ✓ | ✓ |
| Very high oxygen purity capability | ✗ | ✓ for cryogenic systems |
| Startup speed to qualified oxygen | ✓ | ✗ |
| Flexible load adjustment | ✓ | ✗ or limited |
| Automation for 24-hour operation | ✓ | ✓ or ✗ |
| Remote monitoring through communication interface | ✓ | ✓ or ✗ |
| Operating temperature and pressure profile | Normal temperature and low pressure | Often higher complexity for large cryogenic systems |
| Investment profile for variable and low-purity oxygen demand | Advantage | Often less favorable |
| Regeneration via vacuum desorption with vacuum pump | ✓ | Not applicable for membrane and different for cryogenic |
Technology & Design Highlights
Lithium-Based Adsorbent and Airflow Distribution
VPSA-O2 Plant is built around high-efficient lithium-based VPSA-O2 adsorbent PU-8, selected to support oxygen enrichment performance at industrial scale. The system integrates unique airflow distribution technology to improve bed utilization and maintain stable separation behavior across cyclic switching. This combination supports energy-efficient oxygen generation and aligns with large-capacity plant design goals.
Double-Vessel Adsorber Architecture and Cyclic Switching
The adsorber is a double-vessel system designed to ensure continuous oxygen generation. The system alternates between adsorption and regeneration states using program control valves, coordinated by PLC data control system logic. This design supports stable oxygen delivery while nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor are adsorbed from the incoming air stream.
Filtration, Blower, and Vacuum Regeneration
Air is filtered to remove mechanical impurities before being blown into the adsorption vessel by a blower. After adsorption saturation, a vacuum pump is applied to ensure complete desorption for regeneration. This vacuum desorption step is foundational to maintaining repeatable separation performance and sustaining continuous operation cycles in industrial duty.
Process Engineering for Industrial Economics
The process design supports practical performance metrics for oxygen generation economics, including characteristics such as compact structure, automation readiness, and flexible load regulation. Power consumption references are expressed as unit power consumption for 100% pure oxygen generation under defined design conditions, enabling consistent evaluation across operating points.
Industry Compliance & Quality Assurance
PKU Pioneer is a state-recognized high-tech enterprise focused on research and development of VPSA and PSA gas separation technologies and the design, manufacture, and engineering construction of complete sets of equipment. The company operates with a dedicated R&D platform and engineering capabilities supported by a specialized research and development team, pilot base, and adsorbent and catalyst production bases.
A long-standing focus on innovation, exploration, satisfaction, and improvement supports product development and project delivery. Performance indicators across delivered large and medium gas separation and purification plants and projects are positioned to reach international advanced standards, reflecting a mature quality culture aligned with industrial customer expectations for safety, reliability, and lifecycle performance.
Global Reach & Target Markets
VPSA-O2 Plant is designed for global industrial oxygen demand where stable VPSA supply and cost-effective operation are priorities. With extensive successful case studies and rich experience serving clients across multiple regions, PKU Pioneer supports customers with engineering-depth project execution, commissioning capability, and long-term service readiness, while aligning plant design with regional industrial practices and compliance expectations.
East Asia
Southeast Asia
Middle East
Europe
Americas
Customer Success & Experience
Across decades of specialization in VPSA and PSA gas separation, PKU Pioneer has developed a complete delivery system spanning R&D, adsorbent and catalyst production, equipment manufacturing, and engineering construction. This depth translates into practical, field-oriented designs that prioritize continuous oxygen generation stability, automation readiness, and maintainable plant architecture for industrial operators.
Project experience includes oxygen systems applied to blast furnace oxygen enrichment and oxygen-enriched smelting in non-ferrous metallurgy, including deployments in high-altitude environments where operational stability is critical. Customers typically adopt VPSA-O2 Plant to strengthen oxygen supply resilience, reduce operating friction, and enable process upgrades such as oxygen enrichment and oxy-fuel combustion strategies.
After-sales support is structured around a sophisticated service system developed through years of engineering practice. Customers benefit from commissioning-ready automation design, remote monitoring capability through communication interfaces, and application-focused guidance that supports repeatable outcomes, on-time ramp-up, and long-term satisfaction that drives repeat orders.
FAQ
Engineered Solutions Built for Performance
Power Your Oxygen Supply with VPSA Technology
Secure a stable, cost-effective oxygen solution tailored to your process.
Our engineering team supports you from system design to commissioning, ensuring reliable performance in real industrial conditions.
Request a Consultation
Tell us about your needs and we’ll get back to you shortly.