Cryogenic Air Separation Flow Bypass for Cold Booster Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air separation processes using a hot air booster, a cold air booster, and two air turbines face inefficiencies, particularly when the cold booster fails, leading to insufficient outlet pressure for oxygen vaporization, which disrupts the air separation process.
Innovation Solution
The method involves rerouting air to either the hot booster or directly to the turbines, and using valves to bypass non-functional boosters, allowing air to be expanded and sent to the medium pressure column, while also providing means for short-circuiting turbines and controlling airflow through the system to maintain process integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cold booster is used to compress air at intermediate temperature, then the air separation process operates efficiently under normal conditions, but the system becomes unreliable when the cold booster fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces variable parameters (valves) that can change the flow path and operating conditions of the system. When the cold booster fails, valves redirect air flow to alternative paths, allowing the system to adapt its parameters and continue operating with modified conditions rather than complete failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the system dynamically adjustable through controllable valves and switches. The system can transition between different operational states (normal operation with cold booster, backup operation without cold booster) based on the functional status of components, thereby improving reliability without permanently increasing complexity.
2Productivity
If the outlet pressure of the main compressor is reduced to match the cold booster inlet pressure, then the system operates efficiently during normal conditions, but the pressure becomes insufficient for oxygen vaporization when the cold booster fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate devices (valves and alternative flow paths) between the main compressor and the oxygen vaporization system. When the cold booster is non-functional, these intermediaries redirect and condition the air flow to maintain sufficient pressure for oxygen vaporization, acting as a mediator that preserves the required pressure conditions despite the failure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system is configured for optimal normal operation, then efficiency is maximized under normal conditions, but adaptability to failure conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs components with multiple functions: the main compressor serves both normal operation and backup scenarios; valves serve both flow control and failure mitigation; the system architecture supports both optimal efficiency mode and failure tolerance mode. This multi-functionality improves adaptability without proportionally increasing overall 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 approach ensures continued air separation efficiency by maintaining airflow and pressure, even in the event of booster failures, preventing oxygen vaporization issues and ensuring stable operation of the air separation apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
cooled in the exchange line to an intermediate temperature
Implementation Method 2
expanded in a valve
Implementation Method 3
expanded in two Claude turbines connected in parallel
Implementation Method 4
separating air by cryogenic distillation
Implementation Method 5
liquefied and sent to at least one column of the double column
Implementation Method 6
a pressurized liquid coming from the double column, in particular oxygen, also vaporizes
Data Source
Figure 1
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 (C1) and a cold air supercharger (C2); a first turbine (T1) 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.