Air separation unit and systems incorporating the same

Abstract

A system comprising an air separation unit (ASU) is provided. The ASU is configured to produce liquid nitrogen and pressurize to higher pressure using a pump. ASU may be further configured to produce liquid oxygen that can be directly pressurized to be used in required applications. System may further include oxy-fuel combustion system, integrated gas turbines and integrated enhanced oil and/or gas recovery units. Methods of operating the system included.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an air separation unit (ASU) comprising:
 an air compression unit configured to produce compressed air at a pressure greater than about 3 bars; 
 a heat-exchanger unit configured to receive and cool the compressed air to produce cooled air; 
 a first distillation unit configured to receive the cooled air and produce a first output stream comprising liquid-nitrogen; and 
 a first pump in direct communication with the first distillation unit and configured to pressurize the first output stream to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pump is configured to pressurize the first output stream to a pressure in a range from about 300 bars to about 500 bars. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a natural gas or oil recovery well configured to receive the first output stream from the first pump. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pump is fluidly coupled to the heat-exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first distillation unit is configured to produce a second output stream comprising nitrogen and oxygen. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ASU further comprises a second distillation unit configured to receive the second output stream from the first distillation unit and produce a third output stream comprising liquid oxygen. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the ASU further comprises a second pump in direct communication with the second distillation unit and configured to pressurize the third output stream to a pressure in a range from about 30 bars to about 60 bars. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second pump is fluidly coupled to the heat-exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an oxy-fuel combustor, configured to receive the third output stream from the ASU and produce a flue gas. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a turbine that is configured to receive the flue gas from combustor and produce a turbine exhaust flue gas. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a condenser configured to receive the turbine exhaust flue gas and produce a carbon dioxide stream. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising an oil recovery well configured to receive the carbon dioxide stream. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air compression unit is configured to produce compressed air at a pressure in a range from about 15 bars to about 60 bars. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the ASU further comprises an expander in fluid communication with heat-exchanger unit and first distillation unit, and configured to expand the cooled air to atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 compressing air in an air compression unit to a pressure greater than about 3 bars;   cooling the compressed air by passing through a heat-exchanger unit;   distilling the cooled air stream in a distillation unit to produce a first stream comprising liquid-nitrogen, and a second stream; and   pressurizing the first stream to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising distilling the second stream in a second distillation unit to produce a third stream comprising liquid oxygen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising pressurizing the third stream to a pressure in a range from about 30 bars to about 60 bars. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising pressurizing the second stream to a pressure in a range from about 30 bars to about 60 bars. 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 an ASU comprising:
 an air compression unit configured to produce compressed air at a pressure greater than about 3 bars; 
 a heat-exchanger unit configured to receive and cool the compressed air to produce cooled air; 
 a first distillation unit configured to receive the cooled air and produce liquid-nitrogen; and 
 a first pump in direct communication with the first distillation unit and configured to pressurize the liquid-nitrogen to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and 
   an oil or gas recovery well configured to receive the liquid-nitrogen and retrieve the oil or gas.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first pump is configured to pressurize the liquid nitrogen to a pressure in a range from about 300 bars to about 0 500 bars. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the ASU is further configured to produce liquid oxygen. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the ASU comprises a second pump configured to pressurize the liquid-oxygen to a pressure in a range from about 30 bars to about 60 bars. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a combustor configured to receive the pressurized liquid oxygen to combust a fuel stream and to produce a flue gas stream;   a turbine configured to receive the flue gas stream to generate electricity and give out the exhaust flue gas;   a condenser fluidly-coupled to the turbine, and configured to receive the exhaust flue gas and produce a carbon dioxide stream; and   a compressor configured to compress the carbon dioxide stream.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the oil or gas recovery well is further configured to receive the carbon dioxide stream and retrieve the oil or gas.