Integrated Process and Gas Treatment Process

Abstract

Integrated air separation units with a petrochemical process. This invention provides an integrated process and gas treatment process wherein at least one first pressurized gas derived from a first process at a first site is expanded. Using the work generated by the expansion of at least one pressurized gas, a first gas compressor at the first site is driven, operates, and removes compressed gas from the first gas compressor. At least part of the compressed gas from the first gas compressor is sent to a gas treatment unit located at a remote second site. At least part of the compressed gas sent from the first site to the second site is treated in the gas treatment unit. At least one fluid from the gas treatment unit is removed and at least part of the fluid removed from the gas treatment unit is sent to the first site.

1 . A method which may be used as an integrated gas treatment process, said method comprising:
 a) expanding at least one first pressurized gas, wherein said first pressurized gas is derived from at least one first process performed at a first site;   b) driving at least a first gas compressor with the work generated by said expansion of said first pressurized gas, wherein said first gas compressor is located at said first site;   c) removing a first compressed gas from said first gas compressor;   d) sending at least part of said first compressed gas to a gas treatment unit, wherein:
 1) said gas treatment unit is located at a second site; and 
 2) said second site is located at least about 1 km away from said first site; 
   e) treating said first compressed gas in said gas treatment unit;   f) removing at least one fluid from said first compressed gas; and   g) sending at least part of said removed fluid from said gas treatment unit to said first site.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) said work generated by said expansion of said first pressurized gas drives a first air compressor, wherein said first air compressor is located at said first site;   b) a compressed air stream is removed from said first air compressor;   c) at least part of said compressed air stream is sent to an air separation unit, wherein said air separation unit is located at said second site;   d) said air separation unit separates air and at least one fluid enriched in a component of air is removed from said unit; and   e) at least part of said fluid enriched in a component of air is sent to said first site.   
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said first site is located at least about 5 km away from said second site. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first compressed gas removed from said first gas compressor has a pressure of at least about 8 bar. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said first compressed gas has a pressure of at least about 12 bar. 
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said first pressurized gas is steam. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first pressurized gas comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:
 a) air; and   b) a hot gas produced by a combustor of a gas turbine.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising deriving said first pressurized gas from a first process, wherein said first process comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a fuel combustion process;   b) a GTL process;   c) a methanol production process;   d) a gas turbine process; and   e) a DME production process.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first process uses said removed fluid. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of said first compressed gas is sent to said gas separation unit. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a) said gas treatment unit comprises said air separation unit;   b) air to be separated in said air separation unit is first purified in a purification unit located at said second site;   c) all the streams of air sent from said purification unit to said air separation unit have pressures less than about 50 bar.   
   
   
       12 . An apparatus which may be used for producing a fluid by gas treatment, said apparatus comprising:
 a) a first process unit, wherein said first process unit is located at a first site;   b) a first turbine, wherein:
 1) said first turbine is located at said first site; 
 2) said first turbine is coupled to at least a first gas compressor; and 
 3) said first gas compressor is located at said first site; 
   c) a means for sending a gas derived from said first process unit to said turbine;   d) a gas treatment unit, wherein:
 1) said gas treatment unit is located at a second site; and 
 2) said second site is located at least about 1 km away from said first site; 
   e) a first pipeline for sending gas from said first gas compressor to said gas treatment unit; and   f) a second pipeline for sending a fluid removed from said gas treatment unit to said first site.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said first pipeline and said second pipeline run substantially parallel to each other over at least part of their length. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 a) said gas treatment unit is a distillation unit;   b) said distillation unit comprises:
 1) a purifier for purifying a gas stream downstream of said first gas compressor; and 
 2) a heat exchanger for bringing said purified gas stream to a temperature suitable for distillation; and 
   c) said purifier and said heat exchanger are both located at said second site.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) producing said first compressed gas stream at said first site by a first compression process, wherein said first compression process comprises at least one first expansion step;   b) producing a second compressed gas stream at said first site by a second compression process, wherein said second compression process comprises at least one second expansion step;   c) mixing said first compressed gas stream and said second compressed gas stream to form a combined gas stream; and   d) sending said combined gas stream to an air separation unit located at said second site.