Patent ID: 6945076

Claim:
An apparatus which may be used for air distillation, said apparatus comprising: a) at least two cold boxes, wherein said cold boxes comprise: 1) at least one heat exchanger, wherein said heat exchanger comprises a cooling means for cooling the air to be distilled; and 2) at least one air distillation unit, wherein said distillation unit comprises a production means for producing at least one member selected from the group consisting of: i) oxygen; ii) nitrogen; and iii) argon; and b) an air treatment unit, wherein said air treatment unit comprises: 1) an air treatment means for treating air to be sent to said distillation units, wherein said air treatment means comprises a plurality of air treatment elements connected in parallel; and 2) an outlet, wherein said outlet is connected to both said cold boxes and to all of said air treatment elements connected in parallel.