AIR SEPERATION UNIT

CONCEPT
Divyang

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 CARL V LINDE
In May 1895 Carl von Linde performed in his laboratory in Munich an
experiment which led to his invention of the first continuous process for
the liquefaction of air based on the Joule Thomson refrigeration effect
and the principle of countercurrent heat exchange. This was the
breakthrough for cryogenic air separation.

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 UNDERSTANDING ASU
Consider two alcohols A & B of normal boiling point of 70°C & 90°C.
The separation will be a simple distillation column - 43°C
COOLENT
33°C

70°C

A
A+B

90°C
STEAM
OR
HEATING MEDIA B
~110°C DBS
 CRYOGENIC CONDITION
THE PROBLEM STARTS WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE IN °K
ie Boiling Points are 70°K & 90°K, 43°K
these are BP of N2 & O2 at atm press COOLENT
33°K

70°K

N2
AIR

90°K
STEAM
OR
HEATING MEDIA O2
~110°K DBS
 CRYOGENIC CONDITION

What can be the Heat sink (Condenser fluid) at column

top temperature of 70°K.

What can be the Heat supply at column bottom

temperature of 90°K

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 DISTILLATION WITHOUT
CONDNESER
IMPURE N2
REFLUX
IMPURE LIQ N2+O2

AIR
ATM
PRESS

90°K

PURE LIQ O2

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DISTILLATION WITHOUT
REBOILER

70°K

PURE N2
ATM
PRESS
AIR

IMPURE LIQ N2+O2

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 DISTILLATION WITHOUT
CONDENSER/REBOILER
REFLUX IMPURE
IMPURE LIQ O2 +N2 N2
ATM
PRESS
AIR

90
°K
PURE O2

70
°K
ATM PURE N2
AIR PRESS

IMPURE
LIQ O2+N2 DBS
USE STREAM OF ONE COLUMN
IN ANOTHER
REFLUX IMPURE
IMPURE LIQ N2 N2

ATM
PRESS
90
°K
PURE O2

70
°K
ATM PURE N2
AIR PRESS

IMPURE
LIQ O2 DBS
 COMBINE
REBOILER/CONDESER
REFLUX IMPURE
IMPURE LIQ N2 N2

ATM
PRESS How will 70°K vapour
re-boil 90°K liquid
90
°K
PURE O2

How will 90°K liquid

70 condense-70°K v apour
°K
ATM PURE N2
AIR PRESS

IMPURE
LIQ O2 DBS
 COMBINE
REBOILER/CONDESER
•BOING POINT IS A FUNCTION OF PRESSURE

• INCREASE BOTTOM COLUMN PRESSURE SUCH

THAT THE BOTTOM COLUMN TOP TEMPERATURE
IS JUST HIGHER THAN THE TOP COLUMN BOTTOM
TEMPERATURE

TOP COL BOTTOM TEMP ~ 90°K

WITH APPROACH OF ~2°K
BOTTOM COL TOP TEMP ~ 90+2 = 92°K
EQUIVALENT SATURATION PRESS 5 TO 6 BARA
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N2/O2 VLE

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N2/O2 VLE

N2

O2

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ASU Column

Top Column pressure

Bottom Column pressure

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 COMBINED COLUMN
REFLUX IMPURE
IMPURE LIQ N2 N2

1~ 1.5 BARA Condenser cum

Reboiler

90°
K PURE
LIQ O2
92
°K
AIR
PURE
~6 BARA GAS N2

IMPURE
LIQ O2 DBS
COMBINED COLUMN

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 PROCESS
H2O & CO2 COLD RECOVEY FROM FEED TO
AIR
REMOVAL OUT GOING STREAMS COLUMN

LIQ COLD RECOVEY TO PROD GAS O2

PUMPING
O2 INCOMMING RC N2

PROD GAS N2
COLD COMPRESSION
GAS RECOVERY
N2 RC N2

EXPAND COLD RECOVEY FROM FEED TO

RC N2
IN VALVE OUT GOING STREAMS O2 & N2 COLUMN

COLD LOSS MADE UP BY EXPANSION TURBINE – JOULE THOMPSON

EFFECT
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