High-Pressure Oxygen-Rich Air Production with Dual-Turbine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure air processes face inefficiencies and competitiveness issues, particularly when producing predominantly or exclusively internally compressed gaseous oxygen at pressures ranging from 16 to 50 bar, necessitating improvements in process control.
Innovation Solution
The method involves supplying air to a Lachmann turbine at a significantly lower inlet temperature, reducing pre-liquefaction at the turbine outlet, and utilizing a combination of Claude and Lachmann turbines to optimize the air separation process, with specific temperature and pressure ranges to minimize liquid production and enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air is supplied to the Lachmann turbine at conventional inlet temperatures, then pre-liquefaction occurs at the turbine outlet, but this increases the amount of heat transfer required in the main heat exchanger and reduces process efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by supplying air to the Lachmann turbine at significantly lower inlet temperatures than conventional processes. This temperature parameter change reduces pre-liquefaction at the turbine outlet, thereby decreasing the heat transfer burden on the main heat exchanger and improving overall process efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by using a combination of Claude and Lachmann turbines with adjustable operating parameters. The system dynamically optimizes the air supply temperature to the Lachmann turbine and coordinates the operation of both turbines to minimize liquid production and enhance process efficiency under varying conditions.
2Productivity
If high air pressure processes are used to produce gaseous oxygen at 16-50 bar, then oxygen production efficiency improves, but process control becomes more difficult and competitiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a coordinated control system for the combination of Claude and Lachmann turbines. The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters including air supply temperature to the Lachmann turbine and pressure conditions to optimize oxygen production efficiency at 16-50 bar while maintaining ease of process control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms to monitor and control the high-pressure air separation process. By continuously monitoring process variables such as turbine outlet conditions, heat exchanger performance, and oxygen production rates, the system automatically adjusts operating parameters to maintain optimal efficiency and competitiveness.
3Stress or pressure
If the entire feed air quantity is compressed to high pressure (16-50 bar) for internal compression processes, then oxygen product pressure is achieved, but energy consumption increases and process efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the compression pressure level and temperature conditions throughout the process. By carefully controlling the air supply temperature to the Lachmann turbine and coordinating the operation of Claude and Lachmann turbines, the system achieves the required oxygen product pressure of 16-50 bar while minimizing compression energy consumption.
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 significantly reduces the amount of heat transfer in the main heat exchanger, lowers cold compressor performance, and increases the overall efficiency of the air separation process, resulting in a more competitive high-pressure process.
Implementation Method 1
supplying air to a Lachmann turbine at a significantly lower inlet temperature, reducing pre-liquefaction at the turbine outlet
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a combination of Claude and Lachmann turbines to optimize the air separation process
Implementation Method 3
This approach significantly reduces the amount of heat transfer in the main heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
The production of air products in liquid or gaseous state by cryogenic separation of air in air separation plants
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a high-atmospheric-pressure method for producing a pressurized, oxygen-rich, gaseous air product. A first partial quantity of the feed air quantity is supplied at a temperature in a first temperature range to a first turbine unit (5), decompressed using same, and fed into a high-pressure column (111). A second partial quantity of the feed air quantity is supplied at a temperature in a second temperature range to a second turbine unit (6), decompressed using same, and fed into a low-pressure column (12). The pressurized, oxygen-rich air product is provided as an internal compression product at 16 to 50 bar, wherein evaporation is effected proceeding from a temperature in a third temperature range. The third temperature range lies above the first and second temperature range, the second temperature range is selected such that a two-phase mixture with a liquid proportion of 5 to15% forms at the outlet of the second turbine unit (6), the temperature in the first temperature range and the temperature in the second differ from each other by not more than 10 K, and a portion of less than 5% of all air products removed from the air separation plant (100) is removed from the air separation plant in an unevaporated and liquid state. The first turbine unit is braked by a cold compressor (4), the second by a generator (G) or a warm booster. The invention also relates to an air separation plant (100).