A large air separation plant, and associated storage tanks.
In large industrial air separation plants atmospheric air is filtered, compressed, and cooled. The contaminants (primarily moisture, carbon dioxide and heavy hydrocarbons) are removed and are either frozen out in a reversing heat exchanger or absorbed by a molecular sieve. The air is then separated in a four column columns are trayed distillation columns with vapor rising through holes in the trays as liquid travels across them, and then down to the next tray. As the vapor rises, it contains a higher percentage nitrogen, which is the lower boiling point constituent. As the liquid descends the column, it becomes richer in the higher boiling point constituents of air, oxygen and argon. The first column produces nearly pure () nitrogen vapor, and oxygen rich (40%) liquid. The second column produces nearly pure oxygen liquid at the bottom, and nearly pure nitrogen vapor at the top. A side stream which is rich in argon is removed from the second column.
Size: 3389px × 5084px
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico. United States.
Photo credit: © Daniel Bayliss / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: air, cryogenic, gas, gasses, industrial, nitrogen, oxygen, plant, pressurized, propane, separation, silo, storage, welding
