Plant and method for low-temperature air separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air separation plants face challenges in reducing construction effort and costs, particularly in the design and prefabrication of air separation units, which can be improved by optimizing the configuration of rectification columns and cold boxes.
Innovation Solution
The proposed plant configures a low-temperature air separation system with a high-pressure column, a low-pressure column divided into base and top sections, and an argon column, all housed within modular cold boxes, allowing for a compact design and reduced construction complexity by arranging these sections in a way that minimizes space and transport dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the low-pressure column is divided into base section and top section housed in separate cold boxes, then the construction effort and transport dimensions are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The low-pressure column is divided into a base section and a top section that can be housed in separate cold boxes. This segmentation allows for modular construction, reduced transport dimensions, and easier assembly on-site, directly addressing the contradiction by improving ease of manufacture while managing device complexity through systematic division of components.
2Productivity
If the rectification column system is configured with multiple columns at different pressure levels, then the air fractionation efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air separation system is segmented into multiple rectification columns operating at different pressure levels (high-pressure column and low-pressure column). This segmentation enables efficient air fractionation by separating the purification process into distinct stages, improving productivity while managing complexity through functional division of the rectification process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes different pressure levels as an additional dimension to enhance air fractionation efficiency. By operating columns at different pressure levels rather than a single pressure, the system achieves better separation efficiency without simply increasing the number of columns in a linear arrangement, thus managing device complexity while improving productivity.
3Volume of stationary object
If the cold plant parts are accommodated in fewer cold boxes, then the transport dimensions and construction costs are reduced, but the arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base section and top section of the low-pressure column are merged into a single cold box housing. This merging reduces the total number of cold boxes required, thereby reducing transport dimensions and construction costs while managing arrangement complexity through integrated design of the column sections within the shared cold box environment.
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 enables easier construction, reduced transport dimensions, and lower costs by accommodating all cold plant parts in fewer cold boxes, while maintaining efficient air fractionation and product purity, specifically achieving argon and oxygen product purities of 0.05 ppb or better.
Implementation Method 1
The production of air products in the liquid or gaseous state by low temperature separation of air in air separation plants is known and described... rectification columns for nitrogen-oxygen separation, rectification columns for obtaining further air components, in particular of argon
Implementation Method 2
The high-pressure column and the low-pressure column are connected to one another in a heat-exchanging manner via a condenser evaporator
Implementation Method 3
The rectification columns of the mentioned rectification column systems are operated at different pressure levels... high-pressure column... low-pressure column
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a plant for low-temperature air separation, having a rectification column system comprising a high-pressure column, a divided low-pressure column and a divided argon column, and a cold box system comprising a first cold box and a second cold box. The high-pressure column is arranged beneath the lower section of the low-pressure column. The high-pressure column together with the lower section of the low-pressure column is located in the first cold box, and the top section of the low-pressure column in the second cold box. It is proposed to arrange the base section of the argon column in the first cold box and the top section of the argon column in the second cold box, or vice versa. The present invention likewise provides a corresponding method.