Patent ID: 6871513

Claim:
A process for separation of air by cryogenic distillation integrated with an associated process comprising the steps of a) cooling compressed and purified air to a cryogenic temperature in a heat exchanger by heat exchange with fluids separated in an air separation unit, b) separating compressed, purified and cooled air in an air separation unit to produce at least one fluid enriched in oxygen and/or at least one fluid enriched in nitrogen, c) sending at least part of one said fluid to an associated process, d) deriving at least one stream of steam from the associated process, e) operating the air separation unit to use at least part of said steam from said associated process, wherein said operating comprises a stream of steam; and f) producing work with at least one steam turbine, wherein said work is used to supply at least part of the energy needs of at least one member selected from the group consisting of: i) at least one main compressor compressing air treated in the air separation unit; ii) an air booster compressing air which has already been compressed to a superatmospheric pressure; and iii) a compressor for gas enriched in oxygen or nitrogen.