Air separation plant, method for obtaining a product containing argon, and method for creating an air separation plant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air separation plants for argon production are cumbersome and costly due to large column dimensions, making them difficult to transport and assemble, leading to increased site-specific construction costs and labor requirements.
Innovation Solution
The air separation plant is designed with a multi-part high-pressure column, a multi-part low-pressure column, and a multi-part crude argon column, where each column is subdivided into separate top and foot sections that can be spatially arranged and connected via lines and pumps, reducing overall height and facilitating modular prefabrication and transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air separation plant uses large single-piece columns for nitrogen-oxygen and argon separation, then the separation efficiency and product purity are maintained, but the plant becomes difficult to transport and assemble, increasing site-specific construction costs and labor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large separation columns into multiple modular sections that can be manufactured, tested, and transported separately. These sections are then assembled on-site to form the complete column structure, maintaining separation efficiency while improving transportability and reducing construction complexity.
2Strength
If the air separation plant uses large single-piece columns, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the plant requires expensive specialized labor for assembly and increases on-site construction time
Solution Approach 1:
The columns are segmented into standardized modules that can be pre-assembled and tested in controlled environments before transport. This reduces on-site assembly time and labor requirements while maintaining structural integrity through standardized connection designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular sections are prepared, assembled, and tested in advance at manufacturing facilities before being transported to the installation site. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces the time and complexity of on-site construction.
3Ease of manufacture
If the columns are subdivided into multiple parts, then the plant becomes easier to transport and assemble, but the system complexity and number of connections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The column is divided into a limited number of large modular sections rather than many small parts. This segmentation strikes a balance between improving transportability and minimizing the number of connections required during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional components are integrated within each modular section to reduce the overall number of separate parts and connections. This merging approach maintains manufacturing ease while reducing system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for the erection of air separation plants with significantly reduced structural height, enabling cost-effective and efficient assembly and operation, as well as simplified maintenance, by allowing the plant to be largely prefabricated and transported in modular units, reducing the need for complex on-site connections.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining an argon-containing product by low-temperature separation of compressed and cooled feed air; a high-pressure column, a low-pressure column
Implementation Method 2
a crude argon column in which, from an oxygen-enriched stream, an argon-rich stream is obtainable
Implementation Method 3
a pump in which a liquid stream from a lower region of a top section of the low-pressure column and from a lower region of a foot section of the crude argon column is transferrable into an upper region of a foot section of the low-pressure column
Data Source
AI summary
An air separation plant for obtaining product containing argon by low temperature separation of compressed, cooled feed air. The air separation plant comprises a high-pressure column, a multi-part low-pressure column having a base segment and a head segment and a multi-part crude argon column having a base segment and a head segment. An oxygen-enriched flow is obtained from part of the feed air in the high pressure column, an argon-enriched flow is obtained from part of the oxygen-enriched flow in the low-pressure column, and an argon-rich flow is obtained from part of the argon-enriched flow in the crude argon column. Liquid flow is transferred from a lower region of the head segment of the low-pressure column and from a lower region of the base segment of the crude argon column into an upper region of the base segment of the low-pressure column.