METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING RECOVERY OF ARGON IN AIR SEPARATION UNIT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air separation system that optimizes the recovery of argon.;SOLUTION: A cryogenic air separation system for optimizing a recovery of argon includes: an air intake 140; a high pressure distillation column 120; a low pressure distillation column 122; a crude argon column 124; and a controller 199 for automatically controlling the composition of a raw argon stream to decrease an oxygen concentration of the stream while preventing a nitrogen concentration of a crude argon stream from exceeding any value. The controller controls the composition of the crude argon stream until an oxygen concentration of the crude argon stream reaches a selected value. The controller may include a multivariable predictive controller.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT