Abstract: A cryogenic air rectification system comprising a high pressure column, a low pressure column and an argon removal unit coupled to a condenser evaporator, wherein the system is configured to pass gas from a position above an oxygen section of the low pressure column as an argon removal feed gas to a lower region of the argon removal unit, wherein the system is configured to condense gas from an upper region of the argon removal unit in the condenser evaporator to form a condensate, wherein the system is configured to pass further gas from the top of the upper region of the argon removal unit out of the system, and wherein the system is configured to pass at least a part of the condensate as a reflux to the upper region of the argon removal unit.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a gas treatment process in which a process arrangement comprising three process units is used, the gas treatment process comprising subsequently operating a different one of the three process units in a heating mode during a heating phase, the heating mode comprising heating a first gas stream to a first temperature level using a first heat exchanger, introducing the first gas stream at the first temperature level to the process unit which is operated in the heating mode, withdrawing a second gas stream from the process unit which is operated in the heating mode, and thereafter cooling the second gas stream to a second temperature level using a second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for operating a process plant using a dynamic model of the process plant, the dynamic model being based on at least one of thermo fluidic correlations, thermo dynamic correlations, phenomenological correlations, and equations, and being based on geometry and/or topology of components of the process plant, the dynamic model receiving process parameters as input values, the dynamic model being adapted to represent a transition from one to another state of the process plant, wherein the dynamic model is used in an online mode, in which the dynamic model is used in parallel with the operation of the process plant, wherein signals from a control system of the process plant, the signals representing values of at least one first process parameter, are received and fed into the dynamic model.

Abstract: A method for configuring a control system for a process plant using a dynamic model of the process plant, the dynamic model being based on at least one of thermo fluidic correlations, thermo dynamic correlations, phenomenological correlations, and equations, and being based on geometry and/or topology of components of the process plant, the dynamic model receiving process parameters as input values, the dynamic model being adapted to represent a transition from one to another state of the process plant and the dynamic model covering the entire operating range of the process plant wherein the dynamic model is used in an offline mode, in which the dynamic model is used in stand-alone fashion, wherein, based on input and output values of the dynamic model, a behaviour of the process plant is predicted, and wherein, based on the predicted behaviour of the process plant, the control system is configured.

Abstract: A remaining service life of a process-engineering apparatus through which fluid flows and which is embodied as a heat exchanger, column, or container for phase separation is acquired. A computing unit is mounted on the apparatus and coupled to a remote computing unit. Temperature measurement values are obtained by a plurality of sensors arranged in or on the apparatus. Mechanical stress is acquired as a characteristic variable not directly measurable from the measurement values of the temperature. The remaining service life is acquired from the mechanical stress. The mechanical stress is acquired by means of the computing unit and the mechanical stress and/or the temperature measurement values are transmitted to the remote computing unit, and the remaining service life is acquired there. Alternatively, the temperature measurement values are transmitted to the remote computing unit, and the mechanical stress and remaining service life are acquired there.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a number of mechanical stresses (304) prevailing at different first locations in a material of a process engineering apparatus (1), wherein the number of mechanical stresses (304) prevailing at the different first locations in the material of the process engineering apparatus (1) is determined from a number of temperatures (301) prevailing at different second locations in the material of the process engineering apparatus using an empirical model (M3), the empirical model (M3) being trained by means of training data (207?), which are derived using a thermos-hydraulic process Simulation model (M1) and a structural-mechanical model (M2) of the process engineering apparatus (1).

Abstract: A remaining service life of a process-engineering apparatus through which fluid flows and which is embodied as a heat exchanger, column, or container for phase separation is acquired. A computing unit is mounted on the apparatus and coupled to a remote computing unit. Temperature measurement values are obtained by a plurality of sensors arranged in or on the apparatus. Mechanical stress is acquired as a characteristic variable not directly measurable from the measurement values of the temperature. The remaining service life is acquired from the mechanical stress. The mechanical stress is acquired by means of the computing unit and the mechanical stress and/or the temperature measurement values are transmitted to the remote computing unit, and the remaining service life is acquired there. Alternatively, the temperature measurement values are transmitted to the remote computing unit, and the mechanical stress and remaining service life are acquired there.