This process for cryogenic
air separation and the respective
air separation plant use a high-pressure column (101), high-pressure column (101) and low-pressure column (102), a usual main condenser (103) and a crude
argon column (107a / b / c) connected to the low-pressure column (102) at a first intermediate position, the
argon transition. A second
nitrogen top gas (40) is withdrawn from the top of the low-pressure column (102) and used as recycle
nitrogen (41, 42, 44,47,48), recycled
nitrogen (48) being introduced in gaseous form (48) into the high-pressure column (101) and / or into the main condenser (103) and / or into a bottom
reboiler of a
separation column (81,77). The
air separation plant further comprises a medium-pressure column (104) being operated at
intermediate pressure and fed by a first
oxygen-enriched fraction (33, 34) from the high-pressure column (101) is introduced as feed into the medium-pressure column (104). A portion (38) of the
argon transition fraction is introduced as heating medium into a bottom
evaporator (106) of the medium-pressure column (104). A first portion (362) of the third nitrogen top gas (361) from the medium-pressure column (104) in gaseous form, warmed in the main
heat exchanger (9) und finally withdrawn as
gaseous nitrogen product (UHPGAN). A second portion (53) of the third nitrogen top gas (361) is liquefied in the top condenser (105) of the medium-pressure column (104) and used as
reflux in the medium-pressure column (104). A second
oxygen-enriched fraction is withdrawn from the medium-pressure column (104) and introduced into the top condenser (105) of the medium-pressure column (104) as
cooling medium (38). At least a portion of the
oxygen-enriched gas (36) produced in the top condenser (10) is introduced into the low-pressure column (102) at a second intermediate position at least 25 theoretical trays above the first intermediate position.