METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING AIR GASES BY CRYOGENIC SEPARATION OF AIR USING VARIABLE OUTPUT OF LIQUEFIED PRODUCTS AND CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRIC POWER

摘要

A method for the production of air gases by the cryogenic separation of air can include the steps of sending a purified and compressed air stream to a cold box under conditions effective for cryogenically separating the air stream into oxygen and nitrogen using a system of columns, wherein the purified and compressed air stream is at a feed pressure when entering the system of columns; withdrawing the oxygen at a product pressure; delivering the oxygen at a delivery pressure to an oxygen pipeline, wherein the oxygen pipeline has a pipeline pressure; and monitoring the pipeline pressure. The method can also include a controller configured to determine whether to operate in a power savings mode or a variable liquid production mode. By operating the method in a dynamic fashion, a power savings and/or additional high value cryogenic liquids can be realized in instances in which the pipeline pressure deviates from its highest value.