Abstract: A method of separating air in a liquid nitrogen assist plant in which oxygen rich waste stream produced by the plant is used to partially pressurize adsorbent beds in a pre-purification unit operating in accordance with a pressure swing adsorption cycle.

Abstract: An air separation plant having prefabricated heat exchanger and distillation column sections. The heat exchanger can be used in air expansion, waste expansion and product expansion plants by simply connecting the appropriate piping to the heat exchanger. The air separation unit is built up of standardized sections preferably utilizing structured packing. Simplified liquid distributors and supports are used in order to distribute liquid to the packing and to support the packing within the column, respectfully.

Abstract: A process for separating oxygen and nitrogen using an adsorption system comprising at least one main adsorption vessel containing an adsorbent selective for one component and at least one auxiliary adsorption vessel containing an adsorbent selective for the same component, the auxiliary vessel(s) being operated under conditions which result in the production of a product gas of lower purity than the product gas from the main adsorption vessel(s). The lower purity product gas from the auxiliary vessel is used to purge or pressurize the main adsorption vessel(s).

Abstract: A distillation apparatus having applicability to an air separation plant in which a distillation column is suspended within a containment sleeve from a main heat exchanger or a head condenser of the distillation column. The suspension of the distillation column is flexible so that the distillation column can assume a vertical orientation under influence of gravitational force to be self-leveling.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adsorbent vessel adapted to contain an adsorbent and form an adsorbent bed for use in adsorbing a component of a multicomponent gas mixture during a pressure swing adsorption process. In accordance with such process the adsorbent bed is regenerated by desorbing the adsorbed component. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent decreases with decreasing temperature and the pressure swing adsorption process produces a cold spot of reduced temperature within a region of the adsorbent bed. In order to combat the resulting decreased adsorption capacity, a convective heat exchanger extends into the cold spot to raise the temperature of the cold spot. The convective heat exchanger is provided with at least two passes for the entering multi-component gas mixture or the outward bound desorbed component to transverse and thereby transfer heat to the cold spot.