Abstract: An apparatus for the production of low pressure gaseous oxygen includes a heat exchanger and a system of columns comprised of an auxiliary column, a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column. The LP column and the HP column are thermally integrated via a top reboiler/condenser disposed on top of the HP column. The system of columns is configured to separate a cooled air stream into oxygen and nitrogen. The auxiliary column comprises a distillation section and a first and second reboiler. One of the reboilers is driven by the cooled air stream and the other reboiler is driven by a pressurized nitrogen stream. The first and second reboilers boil their fluids at the same pressure as the auxiliary column.

Abstract: A method for the production of low pressure gaseous oxygen includes providing a system of distillation columns and a heat exchanger, wherein the system of columns comprises a lower pressure column, a higher pressure column, an auxiliary column, the auxiliary column having a distillation section, a first reboiler, and a second reboiler, wherein the LP column and the HP column are thermally integrated via a top reboiler/condenser disposed on top of the HP column. A cooled air stream is rectified within the system of columns such that the auxiliary column produces a cold oxygen fluid that is then warmed in the heat exchanger to produce a low pressure oxygen product. The cooled air stream provides reboiling duty for the first reboiler prior to rectification within the system of columns, and a compressed nitrogen stream received from a cold end of the heat exchanger provides reboiling duty for the second reboiler.

Abstract: A method is provided for production of gaseous oxygen at high pressures by splitting a main air feed into at least three separate streams, with the first stream being fed to a heat exchanger and then a column system for rectification; the second stream being further compressed in a warm booster, partially cooled in the heat exchanger, expanded in a turbine coupled to the warm booster and then fed to the column system; the third stream being expanded in a warm expander before being introduced to the heat exchanger and introduced to the column system. In certain embodiments, substantially all of the main air feed is eventually introduced to the column system for rectification, resulting in reduced sizing of a main air compressor and improved product recoveries.

Abstract: A method is provided for production of gaseous oxygen at high pressures by splitting a main air feed into at least three separate streams, with the first stream being fed to a heat exchanger and then a column system for rectification; the second stream being further compressed in a warm booster, partially cooled in the heat exchanger, expanded in a turbine coupled to the warm booster and then fed to the column system; the third stream being expanded in a warm expander before being introduced to the heat exchanger and introduced to the column system. In certain embodiments, substantially all of the main air feed is eventually introduced to the column system for rectification, resulting in reduced sizing of a main air compressor and improved product recoveries.

Abstract: A method for the production of low pressure gaseous oxygen includes providing a system of distillation columns and a heat exchanger, wherein the system of columns comprises a lower pressure column, a higher pressure column, an auxiliary column, the auxiliary column having a distillation section, a first reboiler, and a second reboiler, wherein the LP column and the HP column are thermally integrated via a top reboiler/condenser disposed on top of the HP column. A cooled air stream is rectified within the system of columns such that the auxiliary column produces a cold oxygen fluid that is then warmed in the heat exchanger to produce a low pressure oxygen product. The cooled air stream provides reboiling duty for the first reboiler prior to rectification within the system of columns, and a compressed nitrogen stream received from a cold end of the heat exchanger provides reboiling duty for the second reboiler.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of low pressure gaseous oxygen includes a heat exchanger and a system of columns comprised of an auxiliary column, a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column. The LP column and the HP column are thermally integrated via a top reboiler/condenser disposed on top of the HP column. The system of columns is configured to separate a cooled air stream into oxygen and nitrogen. The auxiliary column comprises a distillation section and a first and second reboiler. One of the reboilers is driven by the cooled air stream and the other reboiler is driven by a pressurized nitrogen stream. The first and second reboilers boil their fluids at the same pressure as the auxiliary column.

Abstract: An improved process for producing elevated pressure nitrogen including providing an air separation unit with at least two columns, a low pressure (LP) column and a medium pressure (MP) column. Also including extracting a nitrogen stream from the MP column and extracting a rich liquid from the bottom of the MP column, and providing at least a portion of the rich liquid stream to a first vaporizer. Also including introducing a portion of the nitrogen stream into the first vaporizer, thereby producing a boil-off gas, and warming at least a portion of the nitrogen stream in a heat exchanger, thereby producing a product nitrogen stream. Also including warming at least a portion of the boil-off gas in the heat exchanger, thereby producing warm. intermediate stream, expanding the warm intermediate stream in an expander, thereby producing a quantity of work, and a low pressure intermediate stream, and introducing the low pressure intermediate stream into the LP column.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquid nitrogen product through the cryogenic separation of air in a nitrogen production plant is provided. The nitrogen production plant can include a main air compressor; a heat exchanger; an air separation unit having a single column, a top condenser, and a bottom reboiler; a recycle compressor; at least one turbine-booster having a booster and a turbine; a liquid/gas separator; and a subcooler. The reboiler can be driven by gaseous nitrogen withdrawn from the recycle compressor, preferably at a first stage discharge of the recycle compressor. Additionally, the single column can be partly refluxed with liquid nitrogen split-off from a Joule-Thompson stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing liquid nitrogen is provided. The apparatus includes a heat exchanger, a pair of turbine-boosters, a warm compressor, an air separation unit having a single column, a top condenser and a bottom reboiler, a liquid/gas separator, and an optional subcooler. The apparatus is configured to produce merchant or non-merchant grade liquid nitrogen using the pair of turbine-boosters to provide refrigeration and energy for the process.

Abstract: A method is provided for production of gaseous oxygen at moderate pressures by splitting a main air feed into at least three separate streams, with the first stream being fed to a heat exchanger and then a column system for rectification; the second stream being further compressed in a warm booster, partially cooled in the heat exchanger, expanded in a turbine coupled to the warm booster and then fed to the column system; the third stream being expanded in a warm expander before being introduced to the heat exchanger and introduced to the column system. In certain embodiments, substantially all of the main air feed is eventually introduced to the column system for rectification, resulting in reduced sizing of a main air compressor and improved product recoveries.

Abstract: An improved process for producing elevated pressure nitrogen including providing an air separation unit with at least two columns, an LP column and an MP column. Also including extracting a nitrogen stream from the MP column and extracting a rich liquid from the bottom of the MP column, and providing at least a portion of the rich liquid stream to a first vaporizer. Also including introducing a portion of the nitrogen stream into the first vaporizer, thereby producing a boil-off gas, and warming at least a portion of the nitrogen stream in a heat exchanger, thereby producing a product nitrogen stream. Also including warming at least a portion of the boil-off gas in the heat exchanger, thereby producing warm intermediate stream, expanding the warm intermediate stream in an expander, thereby producing a quantity of work, and a low pressure intermediate stream, and introducing the low pressure intermediate stream into the LP column.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved process for producing elevated pressure nitrogen. This method includes providing an air separation unit with at least two columns, an LP column and an MP column, and cooling a compressed feed air stream in a heat exchanger, then expanding the resulting cooled feed air stream in an expander, thereby producing a quantity of work and a cooled inlet air stream, feeding the cooled inlet air stream into the LP column. Then extracting a nitrogen stream from the MP column, and warming a first portion of the nitrogen stream in the heat exchanger, thereby producing a product nitrogen stream. Then compressing a second portion of the nitrogen stream in a compressor, thereby producing medium pressure nitrogen stream, and introducing the medium pressure nitrogen stream into an LP column vaporizer. Then extracting a second nitrogen stream from the LP column, and cooling the second nitrogen stream in a condenser thereby producing a liquid nitrogen stream.

Abstract: An improved process for producing elevated pressure nitrogen including providing an air separation unit with at least two columns. The process includes extracting a first nitrogen stream from the MP column, warming a first portion of the first nitrogen stream in a heat exchanger, thereby producing a product nitrogen stream, and warming a second portion of the nitrogen stream in the heat exchanger, thereby producing warm nitrogen stream. Expanding the warm nitrogen stream in an expander, thereby producing a quantity of work, and a low pressure nitrogen stream and introducing the low pressure nitrogen stream into the LP column. Extracting a second nitrogen stream from the LP column, cooling the second nitrogen stream in condenser, thereby producing a liquid nitrogen stream.

Abstract: For the production of ultrapure oxygen, conduct the followig steps: introduce a feed air stream (10, 11, 42, 43) into a single distillation column (12) for producing nitrogen; withdraw an oxygen-containing stream (36, 39) from an intermediate stage of the single distillation column (12), introduce the oxygen-containing stream (36, 39) into an upper section of a high-purity oxygen column (38), and withdraw an ultrapure oxygen product stream (44) from the high-purity oxygen column (38), with the caveat that rising vapour for the high-purity oxygen column (38) is produced by indirect heat exchange in a reboiler (37) between a liquid fraction from a lower section of the high-purity oxygen column and a gaseous heating stream (42), so that the heating stream (42) is at least partially condensed during such indirect heat exchange.