Process and installation for air separation

摘要

A process and installation are claimed for separation of air in a cryogenic distillation column (30 and 42) into nitrogen rich and oxygen rich fractions. The purity of product streams is maintained during variations to demand or in flow or pressure of feed air. When demand or feed rate increases an excess of nitrogen rich liquid is introduced into the column. Alternatively, when flow rate drops the excess of nitrogen rich liquid is withdrawn into a storage vessel (60).