Cryogenic Air Separation Pressure Routing for Booster Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air separation methods by cryogenic distillation face inefficiencies when the cold booster fails, leading to insufficient outlet pressure for vaporizing oxygen, which affects the overall separation process.
Innovation Solution
The method involves bringing all air to a high pressure at least 5 bar higher than the medium pressure, dividing it into fractions, and routing these fractions through hot and cold boosters and turbines in specific configurations to ensure efficient operation, including bypassing non-operational boosters and turbines, and using valves to manage airflow and pressure effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cold booster fails, then the system loses a critical pressure boosting function, but the outlet pressure of the main compressor becomes highly insufficient for vaporizing oxygen
Solution Approach 1:
The hot booster is pre-configured and positioned in the air separation system to provide pressure boosting capability that can be activated when the cold booster fails. This preliminary preparation ensures that pressure requirements for oxygen vaporization are met even during cold booster failure, eliminating the need for system shutdown or manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates the hot booster as a compensatory mechanism that cushions against the adverse effects of cold booster failure. By having this backup pressure boosting capability in place beforehand, the system maintains sufficient outlet pressure for oxygen vaporization during cold booster outages, preventing process disruption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cold booster is not operating, then the system must rely on alternative pressure boosting methods, but the main compressor outlet pressure is insufficient for vaporizing oxygen
Solution Approach 1:
The hot booster is pre-positioned in the system architecture to provide alternative pressure boosting when the cold booster is unavailable. This preliminary arrangement enables the system to adapt to cold booster failure conditions while maintaining the necessary pressure for oxygen vaporization in the exchange line.
Solution Approach 2:
The hot booster serves as a compensatory mechanism that cushions the system against pressure insufficiency during cold booster failure. By having this backup capability in place beforehand, the system maintains operational versatility and meets vaporization pressure requirements even when the cold booster is not operating.
3Productivity
If the system uses a conventional double column with hot and cold boosters, then air separation efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hot booster is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a primary pressure boosting device during normal operation and serves as a backup compensatory mechanism when the cold booster fails. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain high air separation efficiency while managing complexity through versatile component design.
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 air separation efficiency by maintaining high pressure and optimizing airflow through the system, even when one of the boosters is not operating, thereby preventing pressure insufficiencies and ensuring stable operation of the air separation process.
Implementation Method 1
an exchange line where all the air intended for the distillation unit is cooled
Implementation Method 2
each portion is expanded in a respective turbine
Implementation Method 3
in which at least one portion of the second fraction is condensed or undergoes pseudo-condensation
Implementation Method 4
at least one pressurized liquid coming from one of the columns of the double or triple column is vaporized or undergoes pseudo-vaporization in the exchange line
Implementation Method 5
a method for separating air by cryogenic distillation in an installation comprising a double or triple air-separation column
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to equipment for separating air by cryogenic distillation, including: a double air separation column; an exchange line (91); a hot air supercharger (CI) and a cold air supercharger (C2); a first turbine (TI) and a second turbine (T2), each of which is coupled to one of the superchargers; means for bringing all the air to a high pressure that is greater than the mean pressure; means for purifying the air at said high pressure; means for dividing the purified air into two fractions and sending one fraction thereof to the hot air supercharger and one fraction to the cold air supercharger after cooling in the exchange line; means for feeding the second air fraction from the cold air supercharger back into the exchange line; means for sending at least one pressurized liquid from one of the columns into the exchange line; a valve (4, 5); means for sending the non-supercharged air, purified at a high pressure, to the exchange line, so as to be cooled therein, and then to the valve; and means for sending the air, expanded in the valve, to be distilled and/or to the atmosphere.