Patent ID: 6612113
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: F25J

Abstract:
Integrated method of air separation for the production of oxygen-enriched fluid and possibly nitrogen-enriched fluid in a plant comprising at least a first air separation unit (1) comprising at least two distillation columns, a first air compressor (13), a first combustion chamber (17), a first expansion turbine (19), a second air compressor (15), a second combustion chamber (23) and a second expansion turbine (25) and a third air compressor (21), in which compressed air is sent from the first air compressor to the first combustion chamber and to the first air separation unit, compressed air is sent from the second air compressor to the second combustion chamber and to the first air separation unit, air is sent from the third air compressor to the first air separation unit, combustion gas (27) is sent to the first expansion turbine from the first combustion chamber, combustion gas (29) is sent to the second expansion turbine from the second combustion chamber and a nitrogen-enriched gas (3), possibly pressurized, is sent from the first air separation unit upstream of the first expansion turbine and/or upstream of the second expansion turbine.