Patent ID: 7632337
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: B01D,F25J,Y02C

Abstract:
1. A system for air separation, the system comprising: a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) prepurification unit comprising at least two vessels, each vessel having at least one adsorption bed; a compressor unit configured to provide multiple stages of compression; and a cryogenic air separation unit containing at least one phase separating device, the cryogenic air separation unit connected to the PSA unit and the compressor unit; wherein the PSA unit is configured to provide at least a first portion of prepurified air from the PSA unit to the cryogenic separation unit and to provide at least a second portion of the prepurified air from the PSA unit to the compressor unit; and wherein during operation of the air separation system, the at least first portion of prepurified air from the PSA unit is capable of being directed to the cryogenic air separation unit at pressures below the operating pressure of a highest common air pressure in the cryogenic separation unit.