Method for producing at least one air product, air separation system, method and device for producing electrical energy

Abstract

A method for producing at least one air product, wherein an air separation system is used which has a primary air compressor, a primary heat exchanger and a distillation column system, and which comprises a first and a second operation mode, wherein, in the first operating mode, at least one liquid air product produced in the distillation column system is saved and, in the second operating mode, the at least one air product saved in the first operating mode and/or at least one additional liquid air product is supplied to the distillation column system.

1 . A method for producing at least one air product, in which an air separation system that has a main air compressor, a main heat exchanger and a distillation column system that comprises a high-pressure column, a medium-pressure column, a low-pressure column, a low-pressure column-sump evaporator and a low-pressure column intermediate evaporator, wherein the high-pressure column is operated at a higher operating pressure than the low-pressure column, the medium-pressure column is operated at an operating pressure which is between the operating pressures of the high-pressure column and the low-pressure column, and the low-pressure column sump evaporator and the low-pressure column intermediate evaporator are constructed as condenser-evaporators,
 characterized in that the method comprises a first and second operating mode, wherein
 in the first operating mode, at least one liquid air product produced in the distillation column system is stored and 
 in the second operating mode
 the at least one liquid air product that is stored in the first mode of operation and/or at least one further liquid air product is fed into the distillation column system and 
 at least one gaseous pressurized stream that is at a temperature level that is below a warm-side temperature of the main heat exchanger is fed to a cold compressor, is compressed in the cold compressor from a first superatmospheric pressure level to a second superatmospheric pressure level, and at the second pressure level is at least in part fed into at least one distillation column of the distillation column system. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which, in the first operating mode, the at least one pressurized stream, and/or at least one further gaseous pressurized stream is cold-producingly expanded in an expansion turbine. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which oxygen-enriched stream from the sump of the low-pressure column is vaporized in a side condenser to provide a gaseous oxygen pressurized product, wherein the side condenser is constructed as a condenser-evaporator. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the first pressure level corresponds to the operating pressure of the low-pressure column and/or the second pressure level corresponds to the operating pressure of the high-pressure column. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the first pressure level corresponds to the operating pressure of the low-pressure column, and the second pressure level corresponds to the operating pressure of the medium-pressure column or the high-pressure column, or in which the first pressure level corresponds to the operating pressure of the medium-pressure column, and the second pressure level corresponds to the operating pressure of the high-pressure column. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the at least one gaseous pressurized stream is formed from at least a part of a stream that is withdrawn from a distillation column of the distillation column system, which distillation column is operated at the first pressure level as operating pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the at least one gaseous pressurized stream is formed from at least a part of a stream that is provided by means of the main air compressor and is cooled by means of the main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the at least one gaseous pressurized stream, before it is fed into the at least one distillation column of the distillation column system, is combined at the second pressure level with at least one further stream. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , which the at least one gaseous pressurized stream, after the compression in the cold compressor, is at least in part cooled in the main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the at least one gaseous pressurized stream, after the compression in the cold compressor, is fed for cooling to the main heat exchanger on the warm side, or at a further temperature level which is below a warm-side temperature of the main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a part of the gaseous pressurized stream compressed in the cold compressor is warmed in the main heat exchanger and/or is discharged at least in part from the air separation system. 
     
     
         12 . An air separation system that comprises a main air compressor, a main heat exchanger, and a distillation column system and is equipped for operation in first and second operating modes, wherein means are provided which are equipped to store, in the first operating mode, at least one liquid air product produced in the distillation column system, and, in the second operating mode to feed at least one liquid air product that is stored in the first operating mode and/or at least one further liquid air product into the distillation column system, characterized in that the air separation plant comprises a cold compressor, and in that means are provided which are suitable to feed, in the second operating mode, at least one gaseous pressurized stream at a temperature level that is below a warm-side temperature of the main heat exchanger to the cold compressor, to compress it in the cold compressor from a first superatmospheric pressure level to a second superatmospheric pressure level, and then to feed it at the second pressure level at least in part into at least one distillation column of the distillation column system. 
     
     
         13 . A method for producing electrical energy, in which at least one air product is produced, in which an air separation,system that has a main air compressor, a main heat exchanger and a distillation column system that comprises a high-pressure column, a medium-pressure column, a low-pressure column, a low-pressure column-sump evaporator and a low-pressure column Intermediate evaporator, wherein the high-pressure column is operated at a higher operating pressure than the low-pressure column, the medium-press column is operated at an operating pressure which is between the operating pressures of the high-pressure column and the low-pressure column, and the low-pressure column sump evaporator and the low pressure column intermediate evaporator are constructed as condenser-evaporators,
 characterized in that the method comprises a first and second operating mode, wherein
 in the first operating mode, at least one liquid air product produced in the distillation column system is stored and 
 in the second operating mode 
 the at least one liquid air product that is stored in the first mode of operation and/or at least one further liquid air product is fed into the distillation column system and 
 at least one gaseous pressurized stream that is at a temperature level that is below a warm-side temperature of the main heat exchanger is fed to a cold compressor, is compressed in the cold compressor from a first superatmospheric pressure level to a second superatmospheric pressure level, and at the second pressure level is at least in part fed into at least one distillation column of the distillation column system at least during the second operating mode, and is used for producing and/or reacting at least one fuel. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising an oxyfuel method and/or a combined process with integrated gasification.