Method for obtaining an air product in an air separation assembly and air separation assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air separation plants face challenges in producing air products with high purity and continuous supply, particularly due to discontinuous production caused by switching between tanks and inefficiencies in conventional internal compression processes.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a tank system with a first and second tank for alternating operation, supplemented by a third tank for buffering cryogenic liquid, allowing for specified purity checks and continuous production by transferring cryogenic liquid unheated to the third tank to avoid evaporation losses and ensure a stable air product supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a tank system with first and second tanks is used for alternating operation, then purity checks can be performed and production discontinuity is reduced, but evaporation losses occur and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cryogenic liquid is transferred unheated to the third tank in advance, before heating and evaporation processes occur. This preliminary transfer allows purity checks to be performed on the liquid in the third tank without triggering evaporation losses that would occur if heating were applied during transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The third tank serves as an intermediary storage vessel between the alternating first and second tanks and the heating system. By introducing this intermediate storage, the system can perform purity checks and transfers without directly heating the cryogenic liquid during the checking process, thereby minimizing evaporation losses
2Productivity
If cryogenic liquid is heated and evaporated to provide gaseous air product, then continuous supply is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic alternating operation of the first and second tanks, where cryogenic liquid is transferred unheated to the third tank during specific periods. This periodic transfer allows the system to maintain continuous supply capability while reducing the frequency and duration of heating operations, thereby lowering overall energy consumption
3Stress or pressure
If pressure build-up compression is used to increase pressure of air products, then compressed air product is obtained, but additional energy consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the inherent pressure differences and thermal energy already present in the cryogenic liquid and heating system to achieve pressure build-up. By transferring cryogenic liquid unheated to the third tank and utilizing the existing system pressure dynamics, the process reduces the need for additional compression energy while still achieving the required product pressure
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 approach ensures continuous high-purity air product supply, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes evaporation losses, while allowing for flexible pressure adjustments to meet consumer demands, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of air separation plants.
Implementation Method 1
a cryogenic liquid, for example pure oxygen or one of the other air products explained above, is removed from the distillation column system and at least partially stored in liquid form in the tank system
Implementation Method 2
the cryogenic liquid used to provide the air product is taken from the third tank in the liquid state from the third tank, vaporized or converted from the liquid into the supercritical state and discharged from the air separation plant
Implementation Method 3
In the case of supercritical pressure, there is no phase transition in the actual sense; instead, the cryogenic liquid is brought from the liquid state into a supercritical state. The term 'pseudo-evaporation' or 'deliquefaction' is also used for this.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A method for obtaining an air product (GOX-IC) using an air separation plant (100) with a distillation column system (12, 38) and a tank system (70) with a first tank (71) and a second tank (72) is proposed from which a cryogenic liquid (41) is taken from the distillation column system (12, 38), at least partly stored in the tank system (70), and then at least partly used as the air product (GOX-IC), the cryogenic liquid (41) during a first period to the first tank (71) and not to the second tank (72) and during a second period to the second tank (72) and not to the first tank (71) and during the first period to the second tank (72) and not taken from the first tank (71) and during the second period from the first tank (71) and not taken from the second tank (71). It is envisaged that a tank system (70) with an additional third tank (73) is used as the tank system (70), and that the cryogenic liquid (41) which is supplied to the second tank (72) during the first period and during the removed from the first tank (71) during the second period, is transferred at least partially unheated into the third tank (73), and the air product is provided at least partially using the cryogenic liquid transferred unheated into the third tank (73) or a part thereof , wherein the cryogenic liquid used to provide the air product (GOX-IC) is taken in liquid form from the third tank (73), evaporated or converted to the supercritical state and discharged from the air separation plant (100), and/or wherein the Provision of the air product (GOX-IC) used cryogenic liquid taken in liquid state from the third tank (73) and in liquid state in a fourth T ank (76) is stored. An air separation plant (100) is also the subject of the invention.