Abstract: The process and the apparatus serve for separating a gas mixture in a separation plant. A feed gas (18) is introduced into a compressor system (6, 16) and then into the separation plant. In the event of loss or partial loss of the compressor system (6, 16) of the first feed gas compressor (6), a first auxiliary stream (91, 92) which has approximately the composition of the first product stream or approximately the composition of the feed gas is compressed (78, 89) to at least approximately the first pressure and is recirculated to the separation plant.

Abstract: In an integrated process an air separation unit A receives compressed air from the compressor S of a blast furnace B and the compressor K of a gas turbine C. Nitrogen enriched air N from the air separation unit is sent to the gas turbine and oxygen enriched air O from the air separation unit is sent to the blast furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the combined operation of a furnace and an air distillation apparatus. The air distillation apparatus comprises at least one medium pressure column and a mixing column supplying oxygen to the furnace. The furnace and the distillation apparatus are supplied by a same blower, the mixing column receiving air compressed by a compressor coupled to a cryogenic turbine expanding with work a fluid from the distillation apparatus. The compressor/turbine assembly is coupled to and receives auxiliary power from an auxiliary power source.

Abstract: The combined plant comprises at least one furnace (F), at least one air distillation device containing at least one medium-pressure column (MP) and a mixing column (CM) which has an oxygen outlet line (O) for supply to the furnace (F), at least one blowing engine (S) which feeds at least the furnace (F) and the medium-pressure column (MP), and at least one air compressor (C) which supplies at least the mixing column (CM) with air at a pressure which is greater than the pressure of the air supplied by the blowing engine (S).

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a method for preparing deep-frozen liquid gas for the purpose of recovering process energy for a downstream process, with which the refrigerating capacity of the deep-frozen liquid gas can also be used in the downstream process. According to the invention, this is achieved by the fact that the refrigerating capacity of the deep-frozen liquid gas (1) is fed as a heat sink to at least one of the part-steps of the downstream process via at least one heat-exchange medium (28, 54, 79) and, if said heat-exchange medium (28, 54, 79) is not available, the deep-frozen liquid gas (1) is regasified with an additional heat-exchange medium (32).

Abstract: An air separation plant includes a product nitrogen compressor, a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The gas turbine and the steam turbine are operatively associated with the product nitrogen compressor so as to be able to drive the product nitrogen compressor. The steam turbine has an inlet communicating with a steam generator adapted to recover heat from the gas turbine. The air separation plant also includes an air compressor which is typically similarly operatively associated with a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The steam turbine has an inlet communicating with a steam generator adapted to recover heat from the gas turbine.

Abstract: A blast furnace (1) is supplied with a flow of optionally oxygen-enriched air coming from an isothermal compressor (3) or a (radial) centrifugal compressor (11).

Abstract: Oxygen is produced by compressing air to provide a first and a second pressurized air stream, separating the first pressurized air stream into an oxygen-rich product stream and a nitrogen-rich byproduct stream, and combining the nitrogen-rich byproduct stream with the second pressurized air stream. The resulting combined stream is heated by indirect heat exchange with a hot process stream and is work expanded in a gas turbine expander. At least a portion of the expander shaft work is utilized for the air compression step. Fuel is combusted with the expander discharge stream to provide the hot process stream for heating the combined stream prior to expansion. The use of this integrated indirectly-fired gas turbine to provide pressurized feed air for the air separation system improves the availability and reliability of the integrated system compared with conventional directly-fired gas turbine systems.

Abstract: An air stream is compressed and divided into a first partial stream (4) used as the feed air stream for a low-temperature air rectification system (16), and a second partial stream (5) used as an oxidation agent in a chemical reaction (6). The waste gas from the chemical reaction is work expanded (9). The first partial stream (4) is introduced into one of rectifying columns (17, 18). A liquid product stream is withdrawn from one (18) of the rectification columns, compressed (28) and vaporized against a further compressed (31, 33) process stream (15) from the low-temperature rectification. At least a portion of the mechanical energy resulting from the work expansion (9) of the waste gas of chemical reaction (6) is used for further compression (31, 33) of the process stream.

Abstract: An integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power generation system is operated with a cryogenic air separation system which produces oxygen used in a gasification system to produce fuel gas for the IGCC combustion turbine and pressurized nitrogen which is introduced into the combustor for control of nitrogen oxides and increased combustion turbine output. The air separation system produces argon as an additional product, and the air separation system preferably operates in the feed pressure range of about 100 to about 160 psia. The compressed air feed for the air separation system and the compressed combustion air for the IGCC system are provided independently in separate compression steps.

Abstract: A fluid mixture is separated by distillation in a two column system in which a portion of the feed is prefractionated in a first column having at least one separation stage above the feed and the prefractionator bottoms provides feed to a second column operating at a lower pressure. Cooling for condensing the overhead vapor of the first column is provided by heat exchange with flashed prefractionator bottoms or with an intermediate fluid in the second column. Another portion of the feed is flashed and introduced into the second column. The two-column system is readily combined with a high pressure column in a three-column distillation system for separating air which is particularly useful for integration with a gasification combined cycle combustion turbine system. Optionally, three nitrogen products can be produced at three different pressures.

Abstract: A high pressure combustion turbine is integrated with a double column cryogenic air separation system by cooling and purifying a portion of the compressed air from the combustion turbine compressor, work expanding a first portion of the resulting cooled air, and introducing the expanded air into the low pressure column. A second portion of the resulting cooled air is further cooled, throttled, and introduced into the high pressure column. A nitrogen product stream is returned to the turbine combustor, and a portion of the nitrogen product stream optionally is cooled, throttled, and recycled into the high pressure column. Preferably the higher pressure column operates at an absolute pressure which is about 20% to about 85% of the absolute pressure of the compressed air from the combustion turbine air compressor.

Abstract: A system which integrates a cryogenic air separation plant with a blast furnace system enabling efficient oxygen enrichment of the blast air, and, if desired, production of additional higher purity oxygen.

Abstract: A fluid mixture is separated by distillation in a two column system in which the feed is prefractionated in a first column having at least one separation stage above the feed and the prefractionator bottoms provides feed to a second column operating at a lower pressure. Cooling for condensing the overhead vapor of the first column is provided by heat exchange with flashed prefractionator bottoms or with an intermediate fluid in the second column. The two-column system is readily combined with a high pressure column in a three-column distillation system for separating air which is particularly useful for integration with a gasification combined cycle combustion turbine system. Optionally, three nitrogen products can be produced at three different pressures.