Air prepurification for cryogenic air separation

摘要

The present invention relates to cryogenic air separation processes and systems that employ a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) prepurification process. It is advantageous to operate the PSA process at a pressure comparable to or below the operating pressure of the highest pressure column in the cryogenic separation unit. Following PSA prepurification, the air can be split into at least two fractions, with at least a portion of the air being directed to the cryogenic separation unit and at least a portion of the remaining air being further pressurized in at least one stage of compression.