Combined process and plant for producing compressed air and at least one air gas

Abstract

The plant comprises, on site, a compressed-air provision and distribution system (L A ) with at least one dedicated air compressor (CO 2, CO 3 ), an air-gas production and provision system (L G ) comprising an air treatment unit (S), with a reservoir R of the said air gas and normally fed by a compressor (CO 1 ). In temporary operating mode, with one air compressor (CO 2 ) off-line, the compressed air from the compressor (CO 1 ) of the air gas provision system (S) is at least in part diverted (C), typically with pressure reduction (D), to sustain the production of the compressed air system (L A ), the air gas then being at least in part provided by the reservoir (R).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of producing and supplying compressed air to at least one compressed air distribution system and at least an air gas to at least one air gas distribution system, the air gas processed from air in at least one air treatment unit, comprising: 
       in a first operating mode, generating at least a first flow of compressed air and a second flow of compressed air, the first flow of compressed air being supplied to the compressed air distribution system, the second flow of compressed air being supplied to the air treatment unit for producing said air gas; and  
       in a second temporary operating mode, supplying at least part of the first  second flow of compressed air to the compressed air distribution system.  
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising operating separately at least a first compressed air generator and a second compressed air generator for generating said first and second flows of compressed air. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein in the second temporary operating mode, one of the first and second compressed air generators is operated at a reduced or null production rate. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the second temporary operating mode, the entire first flow of compressed air is supplied to the compressed air distribution system. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein in the second temporary operating mode, the air gas supplied to the air gas distribution system is delivered from a reservoir of said air gas. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the second temporary operating mode, the air treatment unit is operated in an idle mode. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the air gas is nitrogen. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the air gas is oxygen. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the air gas is dried air. 
     
     
       10. An installation comprising: 
       at least one compressed air distribution system normally connected to at least a first compressed air generator supplying a first compressed air flow;  
       at least one air gas distribution system for supplying at least one air gas and including at least one air treatment unit having an air inlet normally connected to at least a second compressed air generator supplying a second compressed air flow; and  
       flow switch means for at least temporarily addressing at least part of the first  second compressed air flow to the air inlet of the air treatment unit  compressed air distribution system.  
     
     
       11. The installation according to  claim 10 , wherein the flow switch means includes valve means. 
     
     
       12. The installation according to  claim 10 , wherein the air gas distribution system includes at least one reservoir containing said air gas. 
     
     
       13. The installation according to  claim 10 , wherein said first and second compressed air generators are separate air compression units. 
     
     
       14. The installation according to  claim 10 , wherein the air gas distribution system comprises at least one air treatment unit which is at least in part an adsorption unit. 
     
     
       15. The installation according to  claim 10 , wherein the air gas distribution system comprises at least one air treatment unit which is at least in part a permeation membrane. 
     
     
       16. The installation according to  claim 10 , wherein the air gas distribution system comprises at least one air treatment unit which is at least in part a cryogenic distillation unit.