Integrated process for the separation of air and an integrated installation for the separation of air

Abstract

Air is compressed in an air compressor to produce a stream of compressed air, wherein at least part of the stream of compressed air is sent from the compressor to an air separation unit. The air separation unit produces a fluid enriched in a component of air, wherein the fluid is sent to a first unit in which an exothermic process takes place. The heat generated by the exothermic process is used to produce steam. At least part of this steam is sent to a steam turbine, where the work generated by the steam turbine is used to power at least the air compressor, and a product of the air separation unit is sent to a further unit in which at least one additional process takes place.

1 . An integrated process for the separation of air in which: 
 a) air is compressed in an air compressor to produce a stream of compressed air;    b) at least part of the stream of compressed air is sent from the compressor to an air separation unit producing a fluid enriched in a component of air;    c) the fluid enriched in the component of air from the air separation unit is sent to a first unit in which an exothermic process takes place;    d) heat generated by an exothermic process taking place within the unit is used to produce steam;    e) at least part of the steam is sent to a steam turbine f) work generated by the steam turbine is used to power at least the air compressor; and    g) a product of the air separation unit is sent to a further unit in which at least one further process takes place.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the product of the air separation unit sent to the further process is a fluid enriched in oxygen.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the product of the air separation unit is a fluid enriched in a component selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and argon and a fluid enriched in the same component is sent by a further air separation unit to the further process.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the further process is an exothermic process, heat generated by the further process is used to produce steam, at least part of the steam is sent to a further steam turbine and work generated by the steam turbine is used to power a compressor of the further air separation unit.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the exothermic process is a gas-to-liquids conversion process.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the further process is selected from the group consisting of a DME conversion unit and a methanol conversion unit.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein all the steam produced by the exothermic process is used in the steam turbine.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , in which the exothermic process taking place within the unit consumes the fluid enriched in the component of air from the air separation unit and produces steam.  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1 , in which one exothermic process taking place within the unit consumes the fluid enriched in the component of air from the air separation unit and a further exothermic process taking place within the unit produces steam.  
   
   
       10 . An integrated apparatus for the separation of air comprising: 
 a) an air compressor and a conduit for sending air thereto to produce a stream of compressed air;    b) a conduit for sending at least part of the stream of compressed air from the compressor to a first air separation unit producing a fluid enriched in a component of air;    c) a first unit in which an exothermic process takes place and a conduit for sending the fluid enriched in the component of air from the air separation unit to the first unit;    d) a boiler for producing steam using heat generated by an exothermic process taking place within the first unit;    e) a conduit for sending at least part of the steam to a steam turbine f) means for transferring work generated by the steam turbine is used to at least the air compressor; and    g) a conduit for sending a product of the air separation unit to a further unit in which at least one further process takes place.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the product of the first air separation unit is a fluid enriched in a component chosen from the group comprising oxygen, nitrogen and argon and comprising a conduit for sending a fluid enriched in the same component from a further air separation unit to the further process.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the further process is an exothermic process, and comprising a further boiler for producing steam using heat generated by the further process, a further steam turbine, a conduit for sending at least part of the steam from the further boiler to the further steam turbine and means for transferring work generated by the further steam turbine is used to power a compressor of the further air separation unit.