Patent ID: 7197894

Claim:
An integrated process and air separation process including the steps of: i) a first expansion step of 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 to produce a first compressed air stream; iii) a second expansion step of work expanding at least one pressurized gas derived from at least one first process at a first site,; iv) 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 to produce a second compressed air stream, v) said first and second compressed air streams are mixed at the first site to produce a single compressed air stream; vi) sending at least part of the single compressed air stream to an air separation unit, located at a second site remote by at least 1 km from the first site; vii) 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 viii) sending at least part of the fluid enriched in a component of air to the first site.