Integrated Process and Air Separation Process

Abstract

An integrated process and air separation process including the steps of: Work expanding at least one first pressurized gas 39 derived from a first process at a first site 1 , using work generated by the expansion of the at least one pressurized gas to drive a first air compressor 5 at the first site and removing compressed air from the first air compressor, sending at least part of the compressed air 19 from the first air compressor to an air separation unit 21 , located at a second site 2 remote by at least 1 km from the first site, separating at least part of the compressed air sent from the first site to the second site in the air separation unit and removing at least one fluid 37 enriched in a component of air from the air separation unit and sending at least part of the fluid enriched in a component of air to the first site.

1 . An integrated process and air separation process including the steps of: 
 i) work expanding at least one first pressurized gas derived from at least one first process at a first site;    ii) using work generated by the expansion of the at least one pressurized gas to drive at least a first air compressor at the first site and removing compressed air from the first air compressor;    iii) sending at least part of the compressed air from the first air compressor to an air separation unit, located at a second site remote by at least 1 km from the first site;    iv) separating air in the air separation unit and removing at least one fluid enriched in a component of air from the air separation unit; and    v) sending at least part of the fluid enriched in a component of air to the first site,    wherein the first air compressor located at the first site sends substantially all its compressed air to the air separation unit.    
   
   
       2 . An integrated process and air separation process including the steps of; 
 i) work expanding at least one first pressurized gas derived from at least one first process at a first site;    ii) using work generated by the expansion of the at least one pressurized gas to drive at least a first air compressor at the first site and removing compressed air from the first air compressor;    iii) sending at least part of the compressed air from the first air compressor to an air separation unit, located at a second site remote by at least 1 km from the first site;    iv) separating air in the air separation unit and removing at least one fluid enriched in a component of air from the air separation unit; and    v) sending at least part of the fluid enriched in a component of air to the first site,    wherein air to be separated in the air separation unit is purified in a purification unit at the second site and all the air streams sent to the air separation unit at the second site from the purification unit at the second site are at pressures less than 50 bars.    
   
   
       3 . Combined installation for producing a fluid enriched in a component of air by separation of air and for carrying out a process comprising: 
 i) a first process unit located at the first site;    ii) a first turbine located at the first site coupled at least to a first air compressor located at the first site and means for sending a gas derived from the first process unit to the turbine;    iii) an air separation unit located at a second site, at least 1 km from the first site;    iv) a pipeline for sending air from the first air compressor located at the first site to the air separation unit; and    v) a pipeline for sending a fluid enriched in a component of air from the air separation unit to the first site    
   
   
       4 . The installation of  claim 3  wherein the pipeline for sending air from the air compressor located at the first site to the air separation unit at the second site and the pipeline for sending a fluid enriched in a component of air from the air separation unit to the first site run substantially parallel to one another over at least part of their length.  
   
   
       5 . The installation of  claim 3  comprising a purifier for purifying the air stream downstream of the first air compressor and a heat exchanger for cooling the purified air stream down to a temperature suitable for distillation said purifier and said heat exchanger being located at the second site.