Air fractionation plant, operating method and control facility

Abstract

An air fractionation plant in which a cooling water circuit having a recooling apparatus is provided for cooling compressed air, where the recooling apparatus is configured for cooling cooling water using cooling air. The recooling apparatus is configured so as to cool the cooling water, at least at a wet bulb temperature of the cooling air of more than 289 K, to a temperature which is not more than 3 K above the wet bulb temperature. A corresponding operating method and a control facility are likewise provided.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . An air fractionation plant in which a cooling water circuit having a recooling apparatus is provided for cooling compressed air, where the recooling apparatus is configured for cooling cooling water using cooling air, characterized in that the recooling apparatus is configured so as to cool the cooling water, at least at a wet bulb temperature of the cooling air of more than 289 K, to a temperature which is not more than 3 K above the wet bulb temperature. 
     
     
         2 . The air fractionation plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the recooling apparatus is configured so as to cool the cooling water to a temperature which is at least 0.5 K above the wet bulb temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The air fractionation plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the recooling apparatus comprises a cooling tower. 
     
     
         4 . The air fractionation plant according to  claim 3 , wherein the recooling apparatus has forced ventilation. 
     
     
         5 . The air fractionation plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling water circuit comprises a heat exchanger which is arranged downstream of a compressor. 
     
     
         6 . The air fractionation plant according to  claim 1 , wherein a cooling zone range of from 5 to 25 K is provided. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating an air fractionation plant in which a cooling water circuit having a recooling apparatus is provided for cooling compressed air, where the recooling apparatus is configured for cooling cooling water using cooling air, characterized in that the recooling apparatus is configured and operated so as to cool, at least at a wet bulb temperature of the cooling air of more than 289 K, the cooling water to a temperature which is not more than 3 K above the wet bulb temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the specific surface area of the packing and/or the ratio of liquid to gas and/or the pressure drop in the recooling apparatus is selected and/or set in such a way that, at least at a wet bulb temperature of the cooling air of more than 289 K, the cooling water is cooled to the temperature which is not more than 3 K above the wet bulb temperature.