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Embodiments of methods for controlling impurity buildup on adsorbent for a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process are provided. The method comprises the steps of operating the PSA process including performing (a) a first depressurizing equalization step, and (b) a providing purge step. Impurities a

Embodiments of methods for controlling impurity buildup on adsorbent for a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process are provided. The method comprises the steps of operating the PSA process including performing (a) a first depressurizing equalization step, and (b) a providing purge step. Impurities are sensed in an effluent from the PSA process. If the impurities sensed in the effluent have reached a predetermined upper impurity level, then the PSA process is operated including performing (b) and not (a).

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1. A method for controlling impurity buildup on adsorbent for a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process, the adsorbent is contained in a plurality of adsorption units including a first adsorption unit, a second adsorption unit, and a third adsorption unit, the method comprising the steps of: operati

1. A method for controlling impurity buildup on adsorbent for a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process, the adsorbent is contained in a plurality of adsorption units including a first adsorption unit, a second adsorption unit, and a third adsorption unit, the method comprising the steps of: operating the PSA process in a normal mode comprising a first depressurizing equalization step and a providing purge step, the first depressurizing equalization step causing a first amount of gas to be fluidly communicated from the first adsorption unit that is at a pressurized condition to the second adsorption unit to equalize pressure between the first and second adsorption units, and the providing purge step causing a second amount of gas to be fluidly communicated from the first adsorption unit to purge the third adsorption unit for removal of impurities from the adsorbent in the third adsorption unit;sensing the impurities in an effluent from the PSA process; andoperating the PSA process in a high purge mode comprising a high providing purge step and excluding the first depressurizing equalization step to increase an available amount of gas for the high providing purge step, the high providing purge step causing a third amount of gas to be fluidly communicated from the first adsorption unit to purge another of the plurality of adsorption units, wherein the third amount of gas is greater than the second amount of gas for enhanced removal of the impurities from the adsorbent in the another of the plurality of adsorption units. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of operating the PSA process in the high purge mode includes operating the PSA process such that the high providing purge step causes the third amount of gas to be fluidly communicated from the first adsorption unit to purge the third adsorption unit. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of operating the PSA process in the high purge mode further comprises excluding the first depressurizing equalization step by replacing the first depressurizing equalization step with a hold step to block fluid communication between the first and second adsorption units. 4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the step of operating the PSA process in the high purge mode includes using the hold step to maintain the first adsorption unit at the pressurized condition. 5. The process according to claim 3, wherein the step of operating the PSA process in the high purge mode includes maintaining the pressurized condition at a pressure established by a prior step during the hold step. 6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of operating the PSA process in the high purge mode includes operating the PSA process such that the delivery of the third amount of gas starts at a higher pressure than the delivery of the first amount of gas in the normal operating mode. 7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of operating the PSA process in the high purge mode includes operating the PSA process such that the third amount of gas is approximately equal to the first and second amounts of gas combined. 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of operating the PSA process in the high purge mode includes operating the PSA process such that the third amount of gas is larger than the first and second amounts of gas combined via adding a slipstream of product gas. 9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the impurities includes sensing the impurities in the effluent that is a product gas stream formed from the PSA process. 10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the impurities includes sensing the impurities in the effluent that is a co-current depressurization stream from the first adsorption unit formed during the first depressurization equalization step, the providing purge step, or the high providing purge step. 11. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of operating the PSA process in the normal mode includes a plurality of depressurizing equalization steps including the first depressurizing equalization step and a second depressurizing equalization step. 12. The process according to claim 11, wherein the step of operating the PSA process in the high purge mode includes excluding one or more of the first and second depressurizing equalization steps. 13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the impurities includes measuring the impurities in the effluent continuously or repeatedly until determining that the impurities in the effluent have reached a predetermined upper impurity level, and the step of operating the PSA process in the high purge mode begins in response to determining that the impurities have reached the predetermined upper impurity level. 14. The process according to claim 13, wherein the step of sensing the impurities includes measuring the impurities in the effluent continuously or repeatedly after determining that the impurities have reached the predetermined upper impurity level until determining that the impurities have reached a predetermined lower impurity level, and the step of operating the PSA process and the high purge mode stops in response to determining that the impurities have reached the predetermined lower impurity level. 15. A method for controlling impurity buildup on adsorbent for a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process, the method comprising the steps of: operating the PSA process including performing (a) and (b), wherein (a) and (b) are: (a) a first depressurizing equalization step; and(b) a providing purge stepsensing impurities in an effluent from the PSA process, wherein if the impurities sensed in the effluent have reached a predetermined upper impurity level, thenoperating the PSA process including performing (b) and not (a). 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of operating the PSA process including performing (a) and (b) further includes performing (c) a first pressurizing equalization step and (d) a product or feed pressurization step, and wherein if the impurities sensed in the effluent have reached the predetermined upper impurity level, then the step of operating the PSA process including performing (b) and not (a) further includes performing (d) and not (c). 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of operating the PSA process including performing (a) and (b) further includes performing (e) a second depressurizing equalization step. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein if the impurities sensed in the effluent having reached the predetermined upper impurity level, then the step of operating PSA process including performing (b) and not (a) further includes not performing (e). 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of operating the PSA process including performing (a) and (b) further includes performing (f) a second pressurizing equalization step. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein if the impurities sensed in the effluent having reached the predetermined upper impurity level, then the step of operating the PSA process including performing (b) and not (a) includes not performing (f). 21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of operating the PSA process including performing (a) and (b) further includes performing (g) any number of additional pressure equalization steps. 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein if the impurities sensed in the effluent having reached the predetermined upper impurity level, then the step of operating PSA process including performing (b) and not (a) includes not performing (g). 23. The method according to claim 21, wherein if the impurities sensed in the effluent having reached the predetermined upper impurity level, then the step of operating the PSA process including performing (b) and not (a) includes not performing (g) but including the use of a slipstream of product gas as additional high purity gas for increased purging. 24. A method for controlling impurity buildup on adsorbent for a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process, the method comprising the steps of: operating the PSA process in a normal mode comprising: causing a first amount of gas to be fluidly communicated from a first adsorption unit to a second adsorption unit to equalize pressure between the first and second adsorption units in one or more pressure equalization steps; andcausing a second amount of gas to be fluidly communicated from the first adsorption unit to a third adsorption unit for purging impurities from the adsorbent in the third adsorption unit;sensing impurities in an effluent from the PSA process, wherein if the impurities sensed in the effluent have reached a predetermined upper impurity level, thenoperating the PSA process in a high rate purge mode comprising: blocking fluid communication with the first adsorption unit such that the first amount of gas is not or it is not completely fluidly communicated from the first adsorption unit to equalize pressure with the second adsorption unit through a reduction in the number of the pressure equalization steps; andcausing a third amount of gas to be fluidly communicated from the first adsorption unit to the third or a fourth absorption unit, wherein the third amount of gas is greater than the second amount of gas for enhancing purging of the impurities from the adsorbent in the third absorption unit.